diff --git a/pytorch_lightning/models/trainer.py b/pytorch_lightning/models/trainer.py
index 547eaad8..e45f6e8b 100644
--- a/pytorch_lightning/models/trainer.py
+++ b/pytorch_lightning/models/trainer.py
@@ -285,10 +285,16 @@ class Trainer(TrainerIO):
         if self.on_gpu:
             rank = 0
             self.model = model
-            mp.spawn(dummy, nprocs=len(self.data_parallel_device_ids), args=(rank, ))
+            mp.spawn(dummy, nprocs=len(self.data_parallel_device_ids), args=(self, ))
         else:
             self.__run_pretrain_routine(model)
 
+    def __getstate__(self):
+        """ This is called before pickling. """
+        state = self.__dict__.copy()
+        del state['namelist']
+        return {}
+
     def __dp_train(self, gpu_nb, proc_rank):
         """
         Entry point into a DP thread