Even in the opulent setting of Big Little Lies’ Monterey, Gordon’s man cave stands out, especially for sports/whisky/train enthusiasts. What better way to await federal inside-trading charges than to wallow in super-expensive brown liquor and toy with a museum-worthy train set?
Vulture revealed today that, according to Big Little Lies’ production designer, John Paino, the train was added by creator David E. Kelley. “When I was researching man caves, it made sense that he had a train and enjoyed collecting memorabilia,” Paino said. “We wanted to have a really expensive train set in there to show his wealth.” The team hired a Burbank company called the Train Shack, which specializes in building train sets for rich people. (Isn’t part of the fun is supposed to involve collecting the train sets themselves with other train fanatics?) Paino sketched out a 12' x 18' tabletop, and the Train Shack delivered a set that cost an astounding $30,000.
Depending on how into train sets you are, you may or may not have noted that Gordon’s set resembles the Buffalo skyline, the character’s hometown. Also, Vulture notes, the set includes a Santa Fe Express line, which is apparently “one of the most coveted lines for collectors.” Anyways, mission accomplished: Gordon spent his bored opulence this season in a train-anchored toy room most of us could only dream of. And yet, he still wanted a Gulfstream.