Legends of the Old West HELL ON WHEELS Ep. 6 | “Golden Spike”
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Jun 25, 2025 The race to complete the transcontinental railroad reaches a thrilling climax at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869. A massive celebration ensues, yet the aftermath reveals a financial scandal involving Thomas Durant. The widespread settlement of the West begins, forever changing the nation. The podcast dives into the heroes and unsung laborers who built the railroad, the fallout from Durant's schemes, and the socio-economic shifts triggered by the new rail system. Plus, it explores the profound impact on Native American communities and the environment.
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Pre-Dawn Race To Claim Promontory
- Charles Crocker tried a pre-dawn sneak to build the siding but Union Pacific crews beat them by working all night under lantern light.
- The UP crew finished the siding and Y-track first and stood grinning when the Central Pacific arrived.
Hostage Crisis Over Unpaid Wages
- At Piedmont a mob of 300 unpaid laborers seized Thomas Durant and held him hostage to demand back pay.
- Durant wired for cash and the Ames brothers raised funds, with reports Durant eventually turned over about $250,000 to the workers.
Ceremony And The Final Hammer
- At Promontory Summit executives drove ceremonial spikes while a regular worker ultimately hammered the real final spike home.
- Western Union telegraph operator W.N. Schilling tapped out "done" at 12:47 p.m., and the message sparked celebrations coast to coast.