I have the tickets for our trip on July 31 1949 from Oakland to Chicago on the California Zephyr in a bedroom for 3 of us and it was $300. My parents were not "rich"---but my father was a railfan and I was an only child so the three of us rode the CZ---------but yes, $300 was a lot of money in those days and my parents rented a house from my mother's sorority sister who would never sell it so they didnt buy a house of their own until 1958 after I was married. Money---priorities-decisions----------------rich? in relation to whom? what? by what standard? It was a great ride and cemented my railfan love----------------
C.