FAQ

No. 1883 is a miniseries that has a conclusion. It is however, part of the larger Yellowstone series, so there are some characters that appear in flashbacks on Yellowstone or appear in 1923.

Keep in mind, the show is a work of fiction. The routes, challenges and dangers they face are not overly realistic in terms of what would happen on a single wagon train. But this was sacrificed for storytelling purposes. Had the show taken place but a decade earlier, it would have been more practical. However, wagon trails were still done until the early 1890s.

In terms of the show, it can be speculated that the cost of a train ride was too expensive from Texas to Oregon. In 1883, the trip by train would have been about $65 per person. That's almost $1900 per person in 2025. The German and Romani immigrants were poor. They had barely pooled enough money together to hire their guides and supplies. They already had wagons and their essentials. So they likely wanted to keep them. We also see they tried to hold on to all their worldy possessions (pianos, furniture, stoves, etc) until they were forced to abandon them. Which they likely would have had to try and sell or abandon in texas if they took the train.