AMC is looking to take over a new genre.

Recently the network gave the go ahead on a new drama/western based pilot called Hell on Wheels.  Writers Joe and Tony Gayton have the story revolving around the construction of the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s.

The project is surprisingly from Endomel USA, best known for their reality based television.  The company has been making a large push towards scripted shows under senior VP Jeremy Gold, who will be an executive producer for Hell on Wheels along with Joe and Tony Gayton and Endemol USA president-CEO David Goldberg.

The rail line was finished in 1869 and is considered on of the biggest achievements of President Lincoln’s stay in office.  It lead to a significant population increase of white Americans and freed slaves in the West, but also decreased the Native American population as the train system grew.

 Two train companies were key to the growth of the railway- Union Pacific, who built westward, and Central Pacific, who built eastward.

There’s nothing that indicates whether or not this pilot will be following one railway company or another, but with AMC’s track record on pilots (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, etc.), Hell on Wheels will almost definitely be picked up for series.