Re: OFF TOPIC - inflation and railroad ticket prices and costs

The price of gold was pretty fixed about $19.t.oz. in the period 1800-1934
with higher price turbulence during 1860-1880 and higher fixed level pricing
mid-30's to mid-70's. Not sure gold has value today as an inflation measure
due to investor speculation and the removal of US Treasury purchase and
inventory limits in place prior to Nixon's float of gold's price which make it an
apples to oranges historic comparison.

I did use items from a 1900's Sears catalog that could be purchased on-shelf
in the 1970's to figure an inflation factor of about 10x in that 70 year period.
The modern US inflation measure is worthless except for milk or eggs.

I do think modern RR ticket prices are a bargain today simply due to
replacement costs for equipment, land and improved equipment.