Hell on Wheels ( TV series ) - wikipedia Hell on Wheels ( TV series ) This article is about the TV series. For historical background, see Hell on Wheels. For other works with similar names, see Hell on Wheels ( disambiguation ). Hell on Wheels Genre Western Period drama Created by Joe Gayton Tony Gayton Starring Anson Mount Colm Meaney Common Dominique McElligott Tom Noonan Eddie Spears Ben Esler Phil Burke Christopher Heyerdahl Robin McLeavy Kasha Kropinski Dohn Norwood Jennifer Ferrin MacKenzie Porter Jake Weber Tim Guinee Byron Mann Reg Rogers Angela Zhou Chelah Horsdal Theme music composer Gustavo Santaolalla Composer ( s ) Kevin Kiner Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons 5 No. of episodes 57 ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Jeremy Gold Joe Gayton Tony Gayton David Von Ancken John Wirth Michael Rosenberg Paul Kurta Chad Oakes Michael Frislev Producer ( s ) Peter Chomsky Thomas Brady Anson Mount Jordan Feiner ( associate ) Keri Young ( associate ) Jay Daniel Beechinor ( associate ) Location ( s ) Near Calgary, Alberta, Canada Cinematography Elliot Davis ( pilot ) Marvin V. Rush Thomas Burstyn Running time 43 minutes Production company ( s ) Entertainment One Television Nomadic Pictures ( Gayton ) H.O.W. Productions Endemol Wirthwhile TV AMC Studios Distributor Entertainment One Release Original network AMC Picture format 480i ( NTSC ) 1080i ( HDTV ) 1080p ( Blu - ray ) Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1 ( HDTV ) DTS - HD Master Audio 5.1 ( Blu - ray ) Original release November 6, 2011 ( 2011 - 11 - 06 ) -- July 23, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 23 ) External links Website www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels Production website www.nomadicpictures.com/movies/hell-on-wheels Hell on Wheels is an American Western television series about the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States. The series, which featured Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Common, and Dominique McElligott, chronicled the Union Pacific Railroad and its laborers, mercenaries, prostitutes, surveyors, and others who lived, worked, and died in the mobile encampment, called `` Hell on Wheels '', that followed the railhead west across the Great Plains. In particular, the story focused on Cullen Bohannon ( Mount ), a former Confederate soldier who, while working as foreman and chief engineer on the railroad, initially attempted to track down the Union soldiers who murdered his wife and young son during the American Civil War. The series, which broadcast in the United States and Canada on the cable channel AMC, aired from November 6, 2011 to July 23, 2016. The series was created and produced by Joe and Tony Gayton, and developed by Endemol USA, under the stewardship of senior vice-president of scripted programming Jeremy Gold, and it is produced by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures. In 2012, AMC announced creators Joe and Tony Gayton were no longer involved in the day - to - day production of the series. On December 12, 2012, AMC announced that writer John Wirth would take over as showrunner for the third season. Season one ( 2011 -- 12 ) began in 1865, shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, season two ( 2012 ) covered 1866, seasons three ( 2013 ) and four ( 2014 ) opened in 1867, season five ( 2015 -- 16 ) carries the series into 1869. On November 7, 2014, Hell on Wheels was renewed for a fifth and final season comprising 14 episodes, split between 2015 and 2016. Contents 1 Cast 1.1 Main cast 1.2 Recurring cast 2 Series overview 2.1 Season one ( 2011 -- 12 ) 2.2 Season two ( 2012 ) 2.3 Season three ( 2013 ) 2.4 Season four ( 2014 ) 2.5 Season five ( 2015 -- 16 ) 3 Episodes 4 Production 4.1 Development history 4.2 Casting 4.2. 1 Cast quotes 4.3 Exterior filming 5 Reception 5.1 Critical response 5.2 Ratings 5.3 Awards and nominations 6 International distribution 7 Home media 8 References 9 External links Cast Main cast Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier who initially is determined to avenge the deaths of his son and his wife, Mary. However, Bohannon later leaves revenge in the past and devotes himself to the Union Pacific Railroad during its westward expansion. Colm Meaney as Thomas `` Doc '' Durant, a businessman and investor in the First Transcontinental Railroad, where he hopes to make his fortune. Common as Elam Ferguson, a recently freed slave who is trying to find his place in the world. He works as security and general assistant to Bohannon. Dominique McElligott as Lily Bell, a recent widow ; her husband was a surveyor working on the transcontinental rail project. Tom Noonan as Reverend Nathaniel Cole, a minister who formerly participated in Bleeding Kansas prior to the Civil War ; he is sick of the slaughter and wants to help the whites and Indians avoid another war. Eddie Spears as Joseph Black Moon, a Cheyenne who must choose between the new world and the traditions of his ancestors. Ben Esler as Seán McGinnes, an ambitious young Irishman looking to make his fortune in the West. Phil Burke as Mickey McGinnes, Sean 's brother, who has travelled with Seán to America. Christopher Heyerdahl as Thor Gundersen, Durant 's head of security. He is known as `` The Swede '', even though he is Norwegian. Robin McLeavy as Eva, a woman with a prominent chin - tattoo given to her while in the captivity of Indians. She initially supports herself by working in the Hell on Wheels brothel. Kasha Kropinski as Ruth Cole, Reverend Cole 's abandoned daughter and the heir to his church. Dohn Norwood as Psalms Jackson, a freed former slave and criminal, whose prison sentence has been purchased by the railroad. Jennifer Ferrin as Louise Ellison, a smart, witty, and flirtatious journalist hired by the New York Tribune to cover the `` story of the century ''. MacKenzie Porter as Naomi Hatch, Aaron Hatch 's daughter and Cullen 's second wife. Siobhan Williams portrayed Naomi in a recurring role in the third season. Jake Weber as John Allen Campbell, Wyoming 's first governor. Tim Guinee as Collis Huntington, investor in the Central Pacific Railroad Byron Mann as Chang, supplier for the Chinese workers for not only shops but also the opium dens and brothels. Reg Rogers as James Strobridge, a worker for the Central Pacific Railroad. Angela Zhou as Mei / Fong, a Chinese railroad worker for the Central Pacific Railroad. Chelah Horsdal as Maggie Palmer, a prominent businesswoman in Cheyenne and an investor in the Union Pacific Railroad. Actor Character Seasons 5 Anson Mount Cullen Bohannon Main Common Elam Ferguson Main Dominique McElligott Lily Bell Main Colm Meaney Thomas C. Durant Main Ben Esler Seán McGinnes Main Phil Burke Mickey McGinnes Main Eddie Spears Joseph Black Moon Main Tom Noonan Reverend Nathaniel Cole Main Guest Christopher Heyerdahl Thor Gundersen `` The Swede '' Recurring Main Robin McLeavy Eva Toole ( née Oates ) Recurring Main Kasha Kropinski Ruth Cole Recurring Main Dohn Norwood Psalms Jackson Recurring Main Jennifer Ferrin Louise Ellison Main Tim Guinee Collis Huntington Recurring Main Chelah Horsdal Maggie Palmer Recurring Main MacKenzie Porter Naomi Hatch Recurring * Main Jake Weber John Campbell Main Guest Reg Rogers James Strobridge Main Byron Mann Chang Main Angela Zhou Mei / Fong Main Recurring cast April Telek as Nell, the madam of the Hell on Wheels brothel. ( seasons 1 -- 2 ) Duncan Ollerenshaw as Gregory Toole, an Irish laborer on the railroad ; antagonist to Elam. ( seasons 1 -- 2 ) James D. Hopkins as Senator Jordan Crane, both ally and antagonist to Durant. ( season 1 ) Wes Studi as Chief Many Horses, Joseph 's father. ( season 1 ) Gerald Auger as Pawnee Killer, Chief Many Horses ' son and Joseph 's brother. ( season 1 ) Virginia Madsen as Mrs. Hannah Durant, Thomas ' headstrong wife. ( season 2 ) Grainger Hines as Doc Whitehead, a southerner and father figure to Cullen, who knew him before the war. ( seasons 2 -- 3 ) Ryan Robbins as Hawkins, leader of a gang of ex-Confederate train robbers. ( season 2 ) Serge Houde as Congressman Oakes Ames. ( season 3 ) Damian O'Hare as Declan Toole, Gregory 's brother. ( season 3 ) Leon Ingulsrud as Major Augustus Bendix. ( seasons 3 - 5 ) Victor Slezak as Ulysses S. Grant. ( seasons 3 - 5 ) Jonathan Scarfe as Sydney Snow, former Confederate soldier. ( season 4 ) Gregg Henry as Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints. ( seasons 4 -- 5 ) Tzi Ma as Tao, head of the Chinese crew for the Central Pacific Railroad and Fong / Mei 's father. ( season 5 ) Amber Chardae Robinson as Mary Fields, stagecoach driver. ( season 5 ) Series overview Season One ( 2011 -- 12 ) Main article : Hell on Wheels ( season 1 ) In 1865, former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon ( Anson Mount ) journeys to the Union Pacific Railroad 's westward construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, seeking both work and vengeance on the Union soldiers who killed his wife and son. Cullen gets hired by the railroad and supervises an all - black `` cut crew '', including Elam ( Common ), whose job is to prepare the terrain for track laying. Through conversation with the railroad foreman, Daniel Johnson ( Ted Levine ), Cullen learns more about his wife 's death, but tragedy strikes before Johnson reveals her killer 's name. Thomas `` Doc '' Durant ( Colm Meaney ) begins his `` mad, noble quest '' to expand his Union Pacific westward, in order to complete the transcontinental railroad. Lily Bell ( Dominique McElligott ) accompanies her ailing husband, Robert ( Robert Moloney ), as he surveys the landscape for the Union Pacific ; when Robert is killed by the Cheyenne natives, Lily must cope with being a widow on foreign soil. Reverend Nathaniel Cole ( Tom Noonan ) baptizes Joseph Black Moon ( Eddie Spears ), a Cheyenne, then takes him under his tutelage in the church. Season one ends with Bohannon killing a man he believes was responsible for the rape and murder of his wife, only to discover that man was not there at the time. Season two ( 2012 ) Main article : Hell on Wheels ( season 2 ) Bohannon tries to find himself again while continuing to drive the westward expansion of the Union Pacific Railroad, under Durant 's leadership. Bohannon takes up with a gang of train robbers but is turned over to the Union Army and imprisoned. Durant manages to get him pardoned. The railroad construction enters the Sioux territory, where The Swede and a misguided Reverend Cole assist the natives in attacking the railroad. Lily Bell seeks to gain control of the railroad from Durant and mails his accounting ledgers to the government. Army officers arrive to find the town has been attacked by the Sioux. Season three ( 2013 ) Main article : Hell on Wheels ( season 3 ) Bohannon abandons his quest to avenge his wife and son 's deaths, in order to battle Durant for control of the Union Pacific Railroad. Eva gives birth to a baby who was sired during her marriage to Gregory Toole. Elam proposes marriage to her, even though her post-partum depression weighs heavily on her. The Swede takes up with a Mormon family on their way to the fictional Fort Smith and later reveals his true nature. Season four ( 2014 ) Main article : Hell on Wheels ( season 4 ) Conflict arises among the government and businesses, ranchers, homesteaders, and the railroad, as all of those interests compete with one another for control of Cheyenne, Wyoming, the most important railroad hub in 1867. Meanwhile, the Union Pacific Railroad continues its expansion westward, and Bohannon adjusts to being a husband and father, again. Season five ( 2015 -- 16 ) Main article : Hell on Wheels ( season 5 ) In Season 5, set in California and Laramie, Wyoming, Bohannon is hired by the Central Pacific Railroad to build the transcontinental railroad eastward over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He befriends its Chinese workers, including Mei, a woman disguised as a man known as Fong. President Ulysses S. Grant increases the competition between the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad companies. This is further complicated by Thomas Durant 's corruption. Episodes Main article : List of Hell on Wheels episodes Season Episodes Originally aired First aired Last aired 10 November 6, 2011 ( 2011 - 11 - 06 ) January 15, 2012 ( 2012 - 01 - 15 ) 10 August 12, 2012 ( 2012 - 08 - 12 ) October 7, 2012 ( 2012 - 10 - 07 ) 10 August 10, 2013 ( 2013 - 08 - 10 ) October 5, 2013 ( 2013 - 10 - 05 ) 13 August 2, 2014 ( 2014 - 08 - 02 ) November 22, 2014 ( 2014 - 11 - 22 ) 5 14 7 July 18, 2015 ( 2015 - 07 - 18 ) August 29, 2015 ( 2015 - 08 - 29 ) 7 June 11, 2016 ( 2016 - 06 - 11 ) July 23, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 23 ) Production Development history Hell on Wheels was created by Joe and Tony Gayton in late 2008, and Endemol USA 's scripted television division, headed by senior vice president of original programming Jeremy Gold, came on board to develop the series for AMC. On May 18, 2010, AMC placed a pilot order for Hell on Wheels with Endemol USA. Joe and Tony Gayton wrote the pilot, David Von Ancken was attached to the project as director, and Jeremy Gold, Joe Gayton, and Tony Gayton served as executive producers. On July 6, 2010, Endemol USA announced that they had entered into a partnership with Entertainment One, which would serve as the production studio on the project. Part of the deal between the two companies included provisions of international distribution, with Endemol retaining rights to the series across Europe, while Entertainment One acquired rights to Hell on Wheels in all remaining territories. As a result of the deal, Entertainment One also holds global rights for DVD and Blu - ray sales, as well as video - on - demand and other digital distribution services. The Canadian production company Nomadic Pictures was brought onto the project to serve as co-producers alongside Entertainment One. The pilot was delivered to AMC executives in November 2010. On November 12, 2010 it was reported by Deadline that the executives at AMC were impressed with the pilot, and, coupled with the fact that the network had just cancelled their drama series, Rubicon, were likely to order Hell on Wheels to series. On December 15, 2010, AMC green - lighted the series with an order of 10 episodes. Along with the series pickup, AMC announced that Nomadic Pictures would again co-produce the series, as they had done for the pilot, with Mike Frislev and Chad Oakes joining the series as producers, while John Shiban and David Von Ancken joined the series as executive producers ; Von Ancken had previously served as director on the pilot. The network also announced that John Morayniss and Michael Rosenberg would oversee production for Entertainment One, while Joel Stillerman and Susie Fitzgerald would oversee production for AMC. On July 28, 2011, AMC announced that Hell on Wheels would premiere on November 6, 2011. The series is produced by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures. On November 8, 2011, co-creator Joe Gayton spoke of the series ' origins : `` We ( Tony and I ) started talking and remembered this story, American Experience, which was this really great documentary, and I thought, ' God, that 's great. I just learned a bunch of stuff I had never learned before. ' You just have this cursory information that the Chinese and the Irish built the railroad, but it got in underneath all the dirt and stuff that went on, with the financing of it, and the greed and corruption. And then, I heard about this Hell on Wheels place and I went, ' What a great setting for a western. ' So, we pitched that to Jeremy Gold ( at Endemol ) and ended up taking it to AMC, and they loved it, '' he said. On October 29, 2012, AMC renewed Hell on Wheels for a third season, however it was also announced that the series creators and showrunners, Joe and Tony Gayton, `` will no longer be involved day - to - day on the show '' and series producer / writer / director John Shiban would take over. Following the departure of Shiban, the renewal was put on hold until a replacement could be found. On December 12, 2012, AMC announced that John Wirth, a writer for Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles, will be the new showrunner, starting with the show 's third season. Casting Cullen Bohannon ( Anson Mount ) is the central character of the series. Casting announcements began in July 2010, with Common first to be cast. Common portrays Elam Ferguson, `` an emancipated slave who is working to achieve true freedom in a world entrenched in prejudice ''. Next to join the series were Anson Mount and Dominique McElligott, with Mount playing Cullen Bohannon, `` a former soldier hell bent on avenging his wife 's death '', and McElligott playing Lily Bell, `` a newly widowed woman trying to survive in a man 's world ''. Colm Meaney was next to be cast as Thomas `` Doc '' Durant, a `` greedy entrepreneur taking full advantage of the changing times ''. Ben Esler, Phil Burke and Eddie Spears were the last actors to be cast, with Esler playing Seán McGinnes and Burke playing Mickey McGinnes, `` two young brothers looking to find their fortune in the new West ''. Spears was cast as Joseph Black Moon, `` a Native American man torn between his culture and the changing world around him ''. It was later announced that Jesse Lipscombe, Gerald Auger, Robert Moloney and Ted Levine had joined the series as recurring guest stars. Jennifer Ferrin joined the cast as a series regular for season three, playing a New York Sun journalist covering the construction of the railroad. AMC announced that Dohn Norwood ( Psalms ) became a series regular for season three. Jake Weber joined the fourth season 's cast. He was initially to portray a carpetbagger seeking to profit from the frontier, but his role changed to John Allen Campbell, first governor of Wyoming. MacKenzie Porter has also been cast. She will replace Siobhan Williams in the role of Naomi, Bohannon 's Mormon bride. Cast quotes `` There 's a lot of just being in the right place at the right time, as well as being in the right place and time in my life. I could n't have played this role 10 years ago -- I needed a little bit of life behind me. I 'd been wanting to do a western for years but never had the opportunity to do that. So I immediately responded to this project, and I especially responded to the fact that the lead was a southern character who 's not stereotyped and not villainized. '' -- Anson Mount `` I usually read a script from an audience perspective first, and then look more closely at the character. With this, it was a complete page - turner. It was fantastically entertaining. And then, specifically looking at the character that they wanted me to play, it really got my juices going. You do n't see writing like this, nowadays. The vocabulary he uses is just fantastic. There was no hesitation. '' -- Colm Meaney Common spoke about the challenges of playing a former slave : `` Very challenging. And that 's why I took it on. It 's a lot of responsibility because what black people went through in slavery, within that system of slavery, was really treacherous. And for me, I felt like I owed it to the people that lived during that time to bring something truthful to the character. And even just revisiting some of the experiences of it, ( there ) was just a lot of emotion and a lot of pain. At the same time, a lot of strength came from it. What I enjoy most about the character is the fact that he was written so strong, not as just a person that was oppressed and kept his head down. '' Canadian actor Christopher Heyerdahl talks about how he got his role and the rarity of a Scandinavian character : `` Well, luck and providence, I suppose. They say, ' What 's luck ? Preparation and opportunity. ' So, I guess the opportunity came, in the form of an audition. I put myself on tape, and they responded to it. I went in and did a call - back audition, and they felt that we were on the same track. My idea of who The Swede was, was the same as theirs, and vice versa. This kind of character is very rare, with the fact that it fit so well with my background and my understanding of a Norwegian man. It all just fell into place. I still get a little choked up thinking about how often a character like this comes along. For the viewer, it 's quite interesting. It 's not a character that we see very often, and certainly not in this form. As an actor, it seemed to be tailor - made for me. It 's quite wonderful. '' Irish actress Dominique McElligott never expected to be cast in a period American role : `` I was hanging out in London, having drinks with friends who are all flight attendants, and they said that they would get me over to America for free, and I could stay and do some meetings and auditions. Hell on Wheels was the first one. I arrived on the 5th of July, and the Hell on Wheels audition was on the 6th or the 7th. It was crazy ! They did n't know me, at all. Obviously, I loved the pilot and I loved the character, but I did n't anticipate ever actually getting the chance to do it. When you go up for these brilliant parts, you just figure, ' Okay, well, they 're going to pick some American actress, and that will be that. ' But, the opportunity was there, and I really enjoyed the audition. It was fun. '' Exterior filming Filming of the first season took place in Calgary, as well as areas in central and southern Alberta, Canada. The T'suu T'ina Native Indian Reservation, an Indian reserve in southern Alberta, was the location for most of the exteriors. Exterior filming of the second season was near the Bow River in Calgary. Interior filming was in a building near the city 's airport. Series producers expected the filming of the season 's ten episodes to take about 80 days. Filming of the third season was suspended part way through the sixth episode when the location was included in the mandatory evacuation area due to the flooding in southern Alberta. Originally, producers had announced a two - day shut down, when the only road to the location was underwater. Later, on June 21, producers announced that the production hiatus, scheduled to begin June 27, would take effect immediately. Anson Mount shared pictures of the nearby river and exterior sets flooding on June 20 and 21. Filming of the fourth season 's 13 episodes took place along the Bow River. Filming occurred from April 24 to September 24, 2014. The fifth season 's production filming occurred on the CL Ranch, west of Calgary, for the Truckee, California, and Laramie, Wyoming, locations. The Kananaskis Country park system, 40 miles west of the ranch, served as the Sierra Nevada mountains the Central Pacific must cross. Reception Critical response The first season was given 63 % on Metacritic based on 28 reviews, indicating a `` generally favorable '' impression. The second season was given 60 % on Metacritic, indicating `` mixed or average '' reviews. The Washington Post 's Hank Stuever rated the show highly, commenting, `` Hands down, the most intriguing show on the fall slate. Though imbued with epic sweep, Hell on Wheels is a western at heart, even if that heart is cold. Plenty of guns, knives, arrows, scalpings -- mixed with the incendiary socio - psychological wounds left in the Civil War 's wake. '' Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times says the show ``... takes its cues more from the movies than from life. Never, in the episodes I watched, did I feel as if I were actually seeing how a railroad got built, and sometimes it took a bit of squinting not to see the characters as actors in a field, reading lines. Still, for all the unlikely things ( the creators ) make happen in order to get their characters into place, and the dogged refusal of a couple of those characters to become interesting at all, the show gathers steam as it goes on. '' The Wall Street Journal 's Nancy Dewolf Smith comments : `` ' Hell on Wheels ' finds enough beauty, danger and emotion to make some part of every episode seem fresh and worth waiting for. Not that new is always a good thing. Despite striking performances even in many of the smaller roles, the actors sometimes are made to symbolize very modern obsessions, e.g. with race and gender. The sight of modern sensibilities lurking behind the curtains can break ye olde spell. '' Brian Lowry of Variety writes : `` While the diverse mix of characters could work to the program 's advantage over the long haul, jumping to and fro among them creates a diluted, herky - jerky ride in the early going. '' The Washington Post reported that the series has been criticized for not depicting Chinese immigrants during the construction scenes transcontinental railroad. Creator Joe Gayton said `` budget-wise and time-wise... we could really only concentrate on one side of ( the railroad building ), and that 's probably why we, you know, that 's why we chose the ( emanating from the East Coast ) Union Pacific as opposed to the ( emanating from the West Coast ) Central Pacific. '' By the fifth season, the show expanded its focus to include a significant look at the role of Chinese immigrant workers in the growth of the railroad. Ratings The pilot, premiering November 6. 2011, was watched by 4.4 million viewers -- AMC 's second - highest series premiere in history, following The Walking Dead. Among key demographics, the pilot episode was viewed by 2.4 million viewers in the adults 18 -- 49 category, and 2.3 million viewers in the adults 25 -- 54 demographics, according to Nielsen. The total viewership bested network slot rivals CSI : Miami and Pan Am. The sixth episode was watched by 2.15 million viewers, the lowest viewership of the first season and had a 0.6 rating in the 18 -- 49 age range. The viewership numbers eventually rebounded with the season one finale being watched by 2.84 million viewers, maintaining its steady 0.7 rating in the 18 -- 49 age range. In January 2012, following the season one finale, AMC confirmed Hell on Wheels as the network 's second - highest rated original series, behind The Walking Dead, averaging three million viewers per episode. Awards and Nominations Year Award Recipient Result Ref 2012 Emmy Award Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Gustavo Santaolalla Nominated BET Awards Best Actor Common Nominated Directors Guild of Canada Awards Best Production Design - Television Series John Blackie Nominated Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing - Short Form Dialogue and ADR in Television John Kincade, Todd Niesen, Shannon Beament Nominated 2013 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor on Television Colm Meaney Nominated BET Awards Best Actor Common Nominated Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor TV Colm Meaney Nominated Hollywood Post Alliance Awards Outstanding Color Grading - Television Steven Porter Nominated Leo Awards Best Casting in a Dramatic Series Jackie Lind Won Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Ryan Robbins Nominated Directors Guild of Canada Awards Best Production Design - Television Series John Blackie Won Rosie Awards Best Dramatic Series Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev Won Best Performance by an Alberta Actor Duncan Ollerenshaw Won Best Performance by an Alberta Actress Sydney Bell Nominated Best Editor ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Bridget Durnford Won Best Overall Sound ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Frank Laratta Nominated Best Production Designer / Art Director John Blackie & Bill Ives Won Best Costume Designer Carol Case Won Best Make - Up Artist Gail Kennedy Won Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program Antonio Chang, Jason Fotter, Eric Hayden, Josh Miyaji Nominated Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program Matt Von Brock, Jason Fotter, Tim Jacobsen, Bill Kent Nominated ACTRA Montreal Awards Outstanding Male Performance Christopher Heyerdahl Won 2014 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards Best Period and / or Character Hair Styling - Television and New Media Series Chris Glimsdale, Penny Thompson Nominated Best Period and / or Character Makeup - Television and New Media Series Sharon Toohey, Rose Gurevitch Nominated Rosie Awards Best Dramatic Series Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev Won Best Performance by an Alberta Actor Kevin Davey Nominated Best Editor ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Bridget Durnford Won Best Overall Sound ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Michael Playfair & Frank Laratta Won Best Production Designer / Art Director John Blackie & Bill Ives Nominated Best Costume Designer Carol Case Won Best Make - Up Artist Sharon Toohey Won Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial or Broadcast Program Steve Meyer, Matt Von Brock, Mitch Gates, Antonio Chang Nominated Western Heritage Award Outstanding Fictional Drama Episode : `` One Less Mule '' Won 2015 Episode : `` Return to Hell '' Won Leo Awards Best Casting in a Dramatic Series Jackie Lind Nominated Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Jonathan Scarfe Won Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Sara Canning Nominated Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Christopher Heyerdahl Nominated Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Chelah Horsdal Nominated Rosie Awards Best Dramatic Series Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev Won Best Performance by an Alberta Actor Jason Cermak Nominated Best Editor ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Bridget Durnford Won Best Overall Sound ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Michael Playfair & Frank Laratta Nominated Best Production Designer / Art Director John Blackie & Bill Ives Nominated Best Costume Designer Carol Case Nominated Best Make - Up & Hair Artist ( s ) Sharon Toohey & Chris Glimsdale Won 2016 Western Heritage Award Outstanding Fictional Drama Episode : `` Hungry Ghosts '' Won Leo Awards Best Casting in a Dramatic Series Jackie Lind Nominated Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Byron Mann Nominated Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Chelah Horsdal Nominated Golden Maple Awards Best actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.S Christopher Heyerdahl Nominated Best actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.S Byron Mann Nominated Newcomer of the year in a TV series broadcast in the U.S. Christopher Heyerdahl Nominated Rosie Awards Best Dramatic Series Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev Won Best Editor ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Bridget Durnford Won Best Overall Sound ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Mike Markiw Nominated Best Production Designer / Art Director John Blackie & Bill Ives Nominated Best Costume Designer Carol Case Won Best Make - Up & Hair Artist ( s ) Sharon Toohey & Laura de Moissac Nominated 2017 Rosie Awards Best Dramatic Series Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev Nominated Best Editor ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Bridget Durnford Nominated Best Overall Sound ( Drama Over 30 Minutes ) Frank Laratta & Mike Markiw Nominated Best Production Designer / Art Director John Blackie & Bill Ives Nominated Best Costume Designer Carol Case Won Best Make - Up & Hair Artist ( s ) Sharon Toohey & Laura de Moissac Nominated Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Christopher Heyerdahl Nominated International distribution The series is shown in Australia on FX Australia and in Ireland on RTÉ. Home Media All five seasons of Hell on Wheels have been released in DVD and Blu - ray formats. The complete series was also released in DVD and Blu - ray formats on November 1, 2016, comprising 17 discs. References ^ Jump up to : Volmers, Eric ( August 10, 2012 ). `` Producers build a better Hell for Hell on Wheels near Okotoks ''. Calgary Herald. Retrieved August 12, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Seidman, Robert ( July 28, 2011 ). `` AMC Announces Premiere Date for ' Hell on Wheels ' ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 19, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( October 29, 2012 ). `` AMC 's ' Hell On Wheels ' Renewed For Third Season, Creators Joe & Tony Gayton Exit ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved October 29, 2012. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( November 7, 2014 ). `` ' Hell On Wheels ' Renewed For Fifth & Final Season By AMC ''. deadline.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hell on Wheels : Truth or Fiction ''. Wyoming Postscripts. Wyoming State Archives. July 23, 2015. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Hell on Wheels, a television series with the backdrop of the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s..., Season 5, set in California and Laramie, Wyoming, premiered last Saturday. Jump up ^ Schneider, Michael ( December 16, 2008 ). `` USA unveils major TV plans ''. Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( May 18, 2010 ). `` Endemol AMC Orders Western Pilot From Endemol USA ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( July 6, 2010 ). `` E1 To Produce & David Von Ancken To Direct AMC Pilot ' Hell On Wheels ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( November 12, 2010 ). `` The Cancellation Of AMC 's ' Rubicon ' Opens The Door For ' Hell On Wheels ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( December 15, 2010 ). `` It 's Official : AMC Picks Up Period Drama Pilot ' Hell On Wheels ' To Series ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Mittovich, Matt ( December 15, 2010 ). `` Hell, Yeah : AMC Orders Post-Civil War Drama ''. TVLine. Retrieved August 19, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` AMC Greenlights `` Hell on Wheels '' To Full Series Order ``. AMC. December 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` AMC Announces Production On New Series ' Hell on Wheels ' ''. AMC. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Radish, Christina ( November 8, 2011 ). `` Creators / Executive Producers Joe and Tony Gayton Talk HELL ON WHEELS ''. Collider.com. Retrieved December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` AMC ''. Retrieved 29 October 2012. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( 1 November 2012 ). `` ' Hell on Wheels ' showrunner John Shiban departs, series ' renewal on hold ''. Deadline Hollywood.com. Retrieved 1 November 2012. Jump up ^ Weisman, Jon ( December 12, 2012 ). `` Hell Unfrozen on AMC ''. Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2012. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( July 27, 2010 ). `` Common Cast In AMC Pilot ' Hell On Wheels ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( July 27, 2010 ). `` AMC Pilot ' Hell On Wheels ' Finds Its Leads ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( August 3, 2010 ). `` Colm Meaney To Star In ' Hell On Wheels ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nomadic Pictures -- ' Hell On Wheels ' ''. Nomadic Pictures. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Hell on Wheels -- AMC 's First Look At ' Hell on Wheels ' ''. AMC. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Jump up ^ `` ' Hell On Wheels ' Casts Jennifer Ferrin ''. DenofGeek.us. April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013. Jump up ^ `` ' Hell On Wheels ' Casting Update ''. DenofGeek.us. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Lesley ( April 28, 2014 ). `` ' Hell on Wheels ' Adds ' Medium ' Alum as Series Regular ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 29, 2014. Jump up ^ `` MacKenzie Porter Joins AMC 's ' Hell On Wheels ' ; Salli Richardson - Whitfield In BET 's ' Being Mary Jane ' ''. Deadline.com. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014. Jump up ^ Barone, Matt. `` Hell On Wheels '' Star Anson Mount Talks, Complex.com, November 3, 2011. Jump up ^ Radish, Christina. Colm Meaney Talks HELL ON WHEELS, Collider.com, November 6, 2011. Jump up ^ Hyman, Dan ( November 4, 2011 ). `` Common on AMC 's Hell on Wheels, Playing a Freed Slave ''. NY Mag. Jump up ^ Radish, Christina ( November 28, 2011 ). Christopher Heyerdahl Talks HELL ON WHEELS and THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN -- PART 1, Collider.com, December 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Radish, Christina ( November 5, 2011 ). `` Dominique McElligott HELL ON WHEELS Interview ''. Collider.com. Jump up ^ Wilton, Lisa ( July 6, 2010 ). `` New TV series to be filmed in Calgary ''. Calgary Sun. Retrieved September 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Miller, Gerri ( November 2, 2011 ). `` The greening of ' Hell on Wheels ' ''. Mother Nature Network. Retrieved September 16, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( June 21, 2013 ). `` UPDATE : ' Hell On Wheels ' Goes On Hiatus As Floods Hit Calgary Set ''. Deadline Hollywood. PMC. Retrieved June 23, 2013. Jump up ^ Furdyk, Brent ( June 21, 2013 ). `` Alberta flooding halts production of AMC western ' Hell on Wheels ' ''. Shaw Communications. Retrieved June 23, 2013. Jump up ^ Kennedy, John R. ( June 21, 2013 ). `` ' Hell on Wheels ' set shut down due to Alberta flooding ''. Global News. Retrieved June 23, 2013. Jump up ^ Mount, Anson ( June 21, 2013 ). `` Our set ''. Twitter. Retrieved June 23, 2013. Jump up ^ `` AMC western Hell on Wheels holding latest Calgary casting call for fourth season ''. Calgary Sun. Jump up ^ Beharriell, Chad ( July 17, 2015 ). `` AMC 's Hell On Wheels -- Land & Location Reboot ''. westernsreboot.com. Retrieved October 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Hell on Wheels : Season 1, Metacritic CBS Jump up ^ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/hell-on-wheels/season-2 Metacritic, CBS Jump up ^ Stuever, Hank. 2011 TV season : Few smooth takeoffs, many bumpy arrivals, Washington Post, September 20, 2011. Jump up ^ Lloyd, Robert. ' Hell on Wheels ' review : It takes a while to get chugging along, Los Angeles Times, November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Smith, Nancy Dewolf. `` Tales of the Old West '', Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Lowry, Brian ( November 3, 2011 ). `` Hell on Wheels ''. Variety. Jump up ^ de Moraes, Lisa ( July 28, 2011 ). `` TV Column : AMC at a loss for words over ' The Killing, Hell on Wheels ' ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2011. Jump up ^ Adalian, Josef ( November 7, 2011 ). `` Hell on Wheels ' Ratings ''. NY Mag. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Jump up ^ Seidman, Robert ( December 13, 2011 ). `` Sunday Cable Ratings : Kourtney & Kim Top ' Housewives Atlanta ' + ' ' Boardwalk Empire, ' ' Bag of Bones, ' ' Homeland, ' ' Dexter ' & More ''. TV by the Numbers. Jump up ^ Gorman, Bill ( January 18, 2012 ). `` Sunday Cable Ratings : ' Kourtney & Kim ' Take The Crown + ' Cajun Pawn Stars, Atlanta ' Housewives, ' ' Mob Wives 2, ' ' Hell On Wheels ' ' Leverage, ' ' Shameless ' & More ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2012. Jump up ^ Gorman, Bill ( January 17, 2012 ). `` ' Hell on Wheels ' Season Finale Delivers 3.8 Million Viewers, Reigns As AMC 's Second Highest Rated Original Series ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music 2012 ''. emmys.com. September 15, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` BET Awards 2012 Winners & Nominees ''. BET.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2012 Directors Guild of Canada Awards nominees announced ''. www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` MPSE - Television Nominees ''. www.jasonryder.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 Saturn Award Nominees Announced - Dread Central ''. Dread Central. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` BET Awards 2013 Winners & Nominees ''. BET.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Irish Film & Television Academy Irish Film & Television Awards ''. ifta.ie. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 HPA Awards Announce Craft Category Nominees, Special Award Winners Computer Graphics World ''. www.cgw.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 nominees '' ( PDF ). leoawards.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Directors Guild of Canada Honours The Best In The Business At The 12th Annual DGC Awards Whizbang Films ''. www.whizbangfilms.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 nominees '' ( PDF ). ampia.org. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 nominees '' ( PDF ). visualeffectssociety.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2013 ACTRA Awards in Montreal ''. www.actramontreal.ca. Retrieved 6 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Guild Awards Nominations Announced ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2014 nominees '' ( PDF ). ampia.org. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` VES Announces Nominees for 12th Annual VES Awards ''. fxguide. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ Volmers, Eric. `` Alberta productions Hell on Wheels and Klondike win Western Heritage Awards ''. Calgary Herald. Jump up ^ `` 2015 nominees '' ( PDF ). leoawards.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2015 Rosie Nominees -- Alberta Media Production Industries Association ''. ampia.org. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2016 nominees '' ( PDF ). leoawards.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Golden Maple Awards Nominees Unveiled ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2016 nominees '' ( PDF ). ampia.org. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2017 nominees '' ( PDF ). ampia.org. Retrieved 4 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Leo Awards, Nominees by Name 2017 ''. www.leoawards.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017. Jump up ^ Vlessing, Etan ( 2011 - 11 - 08 ). `` AMC 's ' Hell on Wheels ' Bags Big Overseas Deals ''. hollywoodreporter.com ( subscription required ). Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Hell on Wheels * * * New Series * * * RTĂ ‰ Presspack ''. Rte.ie. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 15. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( April 4, 2012 ). `` Hell on Wheels - Press Release for ' The Complete 1st Season ' DVDs, Blu - rays ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( May 29, 2013 ). `` Hell on Wheels - Info Rolls Into Town for ' The Complete 2nd Season ' Extras ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( July 1, 2014 ). `` Hell on Wheels - `` The Complete 3rd Season '' 's Press Release from Entertainment One ``. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( July 8, 2015 ). `` Hell on Wheels - ' The Complete 4th Season ' Press Release : Final Date, Details, and More ! ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( June 15, 2016 ). `` Hell on Wheels - Date, Pricing, Cover Art for ' Season 5, Part 1 ' on DVD, Blu - ray ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( June 15, 2016 ). `` ell on Wheels - ' Season 5, Volume 2 : The Final Episodes ' Package Art ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( September 21, 2016 ). `` Hell on Wheels - Press Release, Box Art for ' The Complete Series ' ; ' Season 5, Volume 2 ' ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016. External links Official website Production website of Nomadic Pictures Production website of E One TV Hell on Wheels on IMDb Hell on Wheels at TV.com Hell on Wheels at TV Guide Hell on Wheels at TheTVDB.com Hell on Wheels Episodes Season 1 `` Pilot '' `` Immoral Mathematics '' `` A New Birth of Freedom '' `` Jamais Je Ne T'oublierai '' `` Bread and Circuses '' `` Pride, Pomp and Circumstance '' `` Revelations '' `` Derailed '' `` Timshel '' `` God of Chaos '' Season 2 `` Viva la Mexico '' `` Durant, Nebraska '' `` Slaughterhouse '' `` Scabs '' `` The Railroad Job '' `` Purged Away with Blood '' `` The White Spirit '' Season 3 `` Big Bad Wolf '' `` Eminent Domain '' `` Range War '' Season 4 Season 5 AMC original programming Former 1980s debuts The Movie Masters ( 1989 -- 90 ) 1990s debuts The Lot ( 1999 -- 2001 ) Remember WENN ( 1996 -- 98 ) 2000s debuts Breaking Bad ( 2008 -- 13 ) Broken Trail ( 2006 ) DVD TV ( 2002 -- 08 ) Mad Men ( 2007 -- 15 ) Movies That Shook the World ( 2005 ) The Prisoner ( 2009 ) Shootout ( 2003 -- 08 ) 2010s debuts 4th and Loud ( 2014 ) The American West ( 2016 ) Feed the Beast ( 2016 ) Freakshow ( 2013 -- 14 ) Game of Arms ( 2014 ) Halt and Catch Fire ( 2014 -- 17 ) Hell on Wheels ( 2011 -- 16 ) The Killing ( 2011 -- 13 ) Low Winter Sun ( 2013 ) The Making of the Mob ( 2015 -- 16 ) The Night Manager ( 2016 ) Owner 's Manual ( 2013 ) The Pitch ( 2012 -- 13 ) Rubicon ( 2010 ) Small Town Security ( 2012 -- 14 ) Talking Bad ( 2013 ) TURN : Washington 's Spies ( 2014 -- 17 ) Current Better Call Saul ( since 2015 ) Comic Book Men ( since 2012 ) Fear the Walking Dead ( since 2015 ) Geeking Out ( since 2016 ) Humans ( since 2015 ) Into the Badlands ( since 2015 ) Preacher ( since 2016 ) Ride with Norman Reedus ( since 2016 ) The Son ( since 2017 ) Talking Dead ( since 2011 ) Talking Preacher ( since 2016 ) Talking Saul ( since 2016 ) Talking with Chris Hardwick ( since 2017 ) The Walking Dead ( since 2010 ) Upcoming Lodge 49 ( TBA ) McMafia ( 2018 ) The Spy Who Came in from the Cold ( TBA ) The Terror ( 2017 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hell_on_Wheels_(TV_series)&oldid=808237648 '' Categories : 2010s American television series 2010s American drama television series 2011 American television series debuts 2016 American television series endings AMC ( TV channel ) network shows American drama television series English - language television programs Hell on Wheels ( TV series ) Serial drama television series Television series by Entertainment One Television series by Endemol Television series produced in Alberta Television series set in the 1860s Western ( genre ) television series Cultural depictions of Brigham Young Cultural depictions of Ulysses S. 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Question: where is hell on wheels supposed to take place
Answer: in the mobile encampment, called "Hell on Wheels", that followed the railhead west across the Great Plains