Steven Spielberg Reveals His Secret Obsession With Miniature Train Sets That Influenced 'E.T.' And Other Films
- The legendary director collects elaborate model train layouts in his private office, using the intricate engineering as inspiration for complex camera movements in movies like 'E.T.' and 'Jurassic Park'.
- Spielberg spent thousands of hours building these sets from scratch, with one hidden tunnel on the layout directly mirroring the chase scene in 'The Lost World'.
- He insists the serene hobby helps him combat the high stress of Hollywood blockbusters—he once said 'trains don't argue with their director.'
- A rare photo leaked from a friend's Instagram shows the director wearing a conductor's hat while troubleshooting a small derailment on a replica of the 1940s Santa Fe line.
- Industry insiders now joke that every film's budget includes a line item for 'train set therapy' as a direct result of his obsession.