Westworld vs. History: The Park’s Railroad compared to the Transcontinental Railroad

Westworld has renewed the history buff in me. In a series of articles named Westworld vs. History, I’ll be exploring the real-life events that helped shape the park narratives. First up–the railroad system.

Westworld twists your mind. It’s blown us all away with its depth, beauty, and ability to question our own mortality and reality. If you take away the sci-fi elements, you could easily be watching a historical show.

In season 2, episode 4 we’re re-introduced to an aspect of the park we haven’t seen nor thought of much. The first time that we see it, it’s in season 1, episode 2 – the train and railroad system.

Not much is said about it in season 1 but in season 2, episode 4, we see it being built in the most hideous of ways. To recap: Lawrence and William, are riding towards Las Mudas.

They come upon a railroad being built by Chinese-Americans and Americans alike. The camera tilts down to show bodies wrapped in cloth underneath the large wooden beams and metal rails used in the construction of a railroad.

A quick side note here. We know from season 1 there’s a railroad in place–this is how guests arrive in Sweetwater. Seeing a new one being built, along with an older William/Man in Black, saying the tracks are supposed to run North, not West, suggests the railroad is being built to connect Sweetwater to Shogun World.

As William continues to ride and survey the construction, the bodies go from being wrapped to being freshly killed. The blood is still red, not dried and dark, and the bodies haven’t decomposed too much. On the left, you see a guest tied up in a pink dress. We then see a railroad worker holding down a man who’s screaming out in terror.

Thanks to Lisa Joy’s directing, we don’t completely see this poor man’s fate. What we do see is the ‘executioner’ raise his arm, drive a spike through the screaming man, and a spurt of blood shoot into the air. That’s one way to reuse, reuse and recycle.

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Now you have the Westworld version of how they were/are building railroads to connect the different parks. Read on to discover the real, historical account of how the West and East became connected and the instrumental role Chinese-Americans played in its construction and expansion.

The California Gold Rush began in 1848. News of this incredible opportunity to gain financial abundance and independence reached far and wide. One such place was the province of Canton in China. Canton had been suffering from a string of natural disasters and was also weary from the Taiping rebellion. As usual, there are always people looking to exploit the misfortune of others.

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Ship owners distributed brightly colored brochures with maps and illustrations describing the golden hills of California. This may be why the Chinese called California ‘Gold Mountain’.

This propaganda inspired thousands of Cantonese to leave their homes and make the 60-day journey over to California. 25,000 Chinese were living in ‘Gold Mountain’ by 1852. By 1865, there were 60,000.

The Pacific Railroad Acts were created by Congress in order to build a railroad system that connected the United States from east to west. The American people wanted a modern form of transportation that connected to two great oceans.

This endeavor would become known as the Transcontinental Railroad. The first rails were laid in the ground in November/December of 1863.

The two companies that took on this project were the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad companies. The men who head up these companies had zero experience in construction, engineering, or railroads. They were businessmen who thrived on competition and legal loopholes.

The two railroad companies were promised 6,400 acres of land (later raised to 12,800 acres) for every mile built. In addition to being able to be landowners, $48,000 in government bonds would also be issued. Naturally, the push to complete construction under budget and ahead of schedule, was as true then as it is now.

Charles Crocker, the head of the Central Pacific railroad, was frustrated by the Irish labor strike because, among other things, it was wasting valuable time. The strikes were not simply about low wages.

The laborers were not willing to continue risking their lives and working under horrific conditions in addition to low wages. By now you’ve figured out how these two major historical events intersect.

The company couldn’t afford to lose any more time. Despite racism and prejudice from one of his peers, Mr. Strobridge, Crocker insisted on hiring the Chinese. “Did they not build the Chinese wall, the biggest piece of masonry in the world?” said Crocker.

Finally, they hired 50 Chinese workers on a trial basis. Once the Irishmen heard the news they’d been hired for less pay and none of the aforementioned basics, they abandoned their strike and went back to work.

Everyone believed the Chinese were too thin and small in stature to be capable of doing the kind of labor required for the job. They proved to be more than just physically capable. They were also more reliable and resilient thanks to balanced diets and low or no alcohol consumption. Thanks to their strong work ethic, the railroad was completed May 10, 1869–months ahead of schedule.

Next: Westworld Women versus Wild West women. How do they stack up?

What do you think? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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Westworld airs every Sunday on HBO at 9 PM EST!