"The Railroad Job" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American television drama series Hell on Wheels, which aired on September 9, 2012 on AMC.
In the episode, Cullen's (Anson Mount) former train-robbing gang sets their sights on Hell on Wheels and its safe.
The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl) continues to prepare Reverend Cole (Tom Noonan) for his prophetic "war".
Hawkins (Ryan Robbins) outlines his plan to rob $50,000 in payroll from Hell on Wheels' railway office to his bandit gang.
As they prepare for the robbery, Hawkins orders him to stay behind in case anyone gets wounded and to prevent Doc from alerting Cullen.
Elam, who recognized the bandit’s Griswold pistol, tells Durant (Colm Meaney) of the coincidence that the payroll arrives the same day the strangers do, as well as two Rebels buying a black man a drink.
He sends them after other guns and then recruits Psalms (Dohn Norwood), who is coughing up blood from his previous fight with Elam, to cover the road.
One of the prostitutes runs out to grab money as it floats through the air, and Nell (April Telek) is shot pulling her back.
Eva (Robin McLeavy) helps Lily tend to Durant's wound, while Elam throws Hawkins into the prison car.
The Swede leads him to a coffin, opens it to reveal the rifles from the armory, and quotes the Bible: "A great sword is given unto you."
Club's Alasdair Wilkins gave the episode a C+ grade, stating: "Hell On Wheels doesn't need to be thematically rich or have complex, multifaceted characters to be a decent show.
"Durant, Nebraska" already provided a blueprint for the show's success as shameless, over-the-top pulp, and the shootout taps into some of that goofily lurid sense of fun.
"[2] Ross Bonaime of Paste gave it a 6.0 rating, stating "'The Railroad Job' points out the largest flaws in Hell on Wheels.