Episode Summary: HELL ON WHEELS Ep. 1 | “The Great Race”

Podcast: Legends of the Old West
Host: Black Barrel Media
Release Date: May 21, 2025

Episode: HELL ON WHEELS Ep. 1 | “The Great Race”

Introduction

In the premiere episode of Hell on Wheels, host Chris Wimmer explores the tumultuous beginnings of America's transcontinental railroad, highlighting the fierce competition, corruption, and monumental challenges that shaped its construction. This episode, titled “The Great Race,” delves into pivotal events and figures that played critical roles in connecting the nation by rail.

The Gasconade Bridge Disaster

The episode opens with a recounting of the tragic Gasconade Bridge disaster, which occurred on November 1, 1855, in St. Louis, Missouri. A special excursion train, the o' Sullivan, carrying esteemed citizens and railroad executives, met catastrophe when a hastily built wooden bridge collapsed under the weight. Chris Wimmer narrates:

“In a single heartbeat, the celebration had turned into catastrophe” (03:00).

Tragically, 31 people lost their lives, including Henri Chouteau, and over 100 were injured. This disaster underscored the precarious state of America's burgeoning rail infrastructure and foreshadowed further tragedies.

The State of the Railroad Industry

Wimmer provides a comprehensive overview of the railroad industry's fragility in the mid-1850s. The rapid expansion led to a fragmented network of privately owned lines, each with its own schedules, track gauges, and safety practices. This lack of standardization resulted in frequent accidents, derailments, and inefficiencies. As he puts it:

“The rail system was as fragmented as it was fast growing” (05:56).

The Gasconade disaster was not an isolated incident but rather symptomatic of broader systemic issues within the industry.

The Vision for a Transcontinental Railroad

Amidst these challenges, the vision of a transcontinental railroad captured the imagination of American visionaries. Chris Wimmer traces the early efforts to realize this dream, including Asa Whitney's proposals in the 1840s and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis's surveys in 1853. Despite significant obstacles—such as the formidable Sierra Nevada mountains and the desolate Great Plains—support for a coast-to-coast rail line persisted.

Abraham Lincoln emerges as a pivotal advocate for the project. As a young lawyer and later as a congressman, Lincoln championed the cause, emphasizing the railroad's potential to unify the nation. Wimmer notes:

“Abraham Lincoln had been a believer in the power of railroads long before he reached the presidency” (15:05).

The Pacific Railway Act and the Great Race Begins

The outbreak of the Civil War intensified the need for a unified rail system. In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act, which authorized the construction of the first federally funded transcontinental railroad. The Act granted land and government bonds to two companies:

• Central Pacific Railroad: Building eastward from Sacramento, California.
• Union Pacific Railroad: Building westward from Omaha, Nebraska.

This set the stage for a fierce competition dubbed “the Great Race.” Wimmer explains:

“It was going to be a race” (18:28).

The financial incentives established by the Act spurred aggressive and often unscrupulous business practices as both companies vied to extend their tracks the fastest.

Thomas Durant and the Credit Mobilier Scandal

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Thomas Durant, a shrewd financier who played a pivotal role in the Union Pacific Railroad's operations. Initially led by John Dix, the company lacked the drive to meet the government's ambitious goals. Durant's entry marked a turning point:

“Thomas Durant… was well known in New York's financial circles” (19:22).

Together with George Francis Train, Durant orchestrated the creation of Credit Mobilier of America, a shell company designed to siphon federal funds. Their scheme involved overbilling the government for construction expenses, allowing Durant and his associates to pocket millions before laying a single rail.

“Credit Mobilier... was a way for Durant and his cronies to funnel federal dollars straight into their pockets” (21:34).

This corruption not only delayed construction but also undermined the integrity of the entire project.

Construction Challenges and Labor Exploitation

With Durant at the helm, construction of the Union Pacific Railroad officially commenced in July 1865. The workforce consisted largely of impoverished Irish immigrants, Civil War veterans, and newly freed slaves, who faced grueling conditions:

“Wages were extremely low and inconsistent, and it was all part of Thomas Durant's scheme” (28:32).

Workers endured harsh winters, physically demanding labor, and dangerous working conditions. Injuries and fatalities were commonplace, yet Durant manipulated records and staged fake progress reports to appease inspectors and investors.

“Whenever government inspectors or investors visited the construction site, Durant staged elaborate scenes of progress” (29:37).

Native American Relations and Propaganda

As the Union Pacific Railroad expanded westward, it encroached upon the lands of Native American tribes, leading to tensions and conflicts. Durant exploited these issues as a pretext for further delays and military interventions:

“Durant used the fear as propaganda” (34:09).

He falsely reported rampant Native attacks to garner additional funding and military protection, thereby perpetuating his fraudulent activities while justifying the construction setbacks.

The Central Pacific Railroad's Progress

In stark contrast to the Union Pacific's mismanagement, the Central Pacific Railroad made significant strides through the challenging Sierra Nevada mountains. Their progress was characterized by innovative engineering and resilient labor efforts, setting a competitive pace against their eastern counterparts. This divergence highlighted the differing approaches and fortunes of the two companies involved in the transcontinental race.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The episode concludes by setting the stage for the ongoing struggle between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. Despite Union Pacific's rampant corruption and inefficiency, the race to build America's first transcontinental railroad was far from over. The upcoming episodes promise to delve deeper into the Central Pacific's achievements and the eventual convergence of these monumental rail lines.

“That's next week on Legends of the Old West. Members of our Black Barrel program don’t have to wait week to week to receive new episodes” (36:30).

Notable Quotes

• Chris Wimmer (03:00): “In a single heartbeat, the celebration had turned into catastrophe.”
• Chris Wimmer (05:56): “The rail system was as fragmented as it was fast growing.”
• Chris Wimmer (15:05): “Abraham Lincoln had been a believer in the power of railroads long before he reached the presidency.”
• Chris Wimmer (18:28): “It was going to be a race.”
• Chris Wimmer (21:34): “Credit Mobilier... was a way for Durant and his cronies to funnel federal dollars straight into their pockets.”
• Chris Wimmer (28:32): “Wages were extremely low and inconsistent, and it was all part of Thomas Durant's scheme.”
• Chris Wimmer (34:09): “Durant used the fear as propaganda.”

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and narratives presented in the first episode of Hell on Wheels. It provides a comprehensive overview for listeners who haven't yet tuned in, highlighting the intricate blend of ambition, greed, and perseverance that defined the early days of America's railroad expansion.