VENTURA COUNTY FAIR : Families Heading to Fair Leave the Driving to Metrolink : Transit: Parents and children enjoy air-conditioned cars and pastoral views en route to the county’s seaside attraction.

Something was missing at the Simi Valley Metrolink station early Saturday morning. There were no foggy-eyed commuters hiding behind the day’s newspaper. No briefcases. No travel-safe coffee cups. And no gray pin-striped suits.

Instead, the platform was filled with collapsible strollers, diaper bags and child-toting parents dressed down for the long, warm day that lay ahead at the Ventura County Fair.

“When you think about the cost of parking, the traffic headaches, the cost of gas--this is definitely worth it,” said Tom Woisard, 46, of Simi Valley, who boarded the train for the fair with wife Maureen, 34, and their 2-year-old son Roland.

With a scheduled 9:30 a.m. departure time, a few riders began lining up at the station on Los Angeles Avenue about an hour ahead. By 9 a.m. the elevated ramp was teeming with anxious children and parents admonishing the little ones to stay clear of the edge.

“We’ve found a lot of kids are taking their first train ride ever, so this is very exciting for them,” said Mary Travis, a transit program manager with the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

High-pitched yelps and cheers rang out when a few sharp whistle blows preceded the sighting of the double-decker Metrolink train, which pulled up to the stop right on time.

“All aboard!” one child yelled.

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About 150 paying customers--plus the many 5- and- under- ride- for- free patrons--boarded the air-conditioned train, Travis said. Some riders quickly nestled down in bottom-level seats. Others scrambled up a short stairwell to the elevated level, which offered them a better view of the countryside.

Soon, strollers and diaper bags were tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the six-car train, and juice bottles and toys were set out to bide the children’s time along the way.

Lisa and Perry Nicodin of Simi Valley caught the train with their two sons--Ryan, 6, and T.J., 4--along with their neighborhood friend Todd Fraser and his three sons, Ian, 6, Alex, 4, and Brett, 2. While the parents talked, the boys were busy having fun by themselves practicing train whistle sound effects.

“Uh-WOO-choo! Uh-WOO-choo!” the quintet chanted in unison. When whistle blows stopped--by parental demand--the boys moved on to fair talk. “I’m going straight to the bumper cars,” Ryan said. “I hope they have my favorite fun-house!” an elated Ian added.

“The train is a load of fun for them and it gives them a little more freedom than being cooped up in a car,” Todd Fraser said.

“Riding the train also gives us a chance to go as two families,” Lisa Nicodin said.

Denni Duskin of Simi Valley could find “only one disadvantage to taking the train,” she said. She and her husband Dennis traveled with their two daughters, Cambria, an infant, and Amanda, 4.

“We have to tote everything with us. I can’t just run out to the car for something,” she said.

Gently shifting from side to side while traveling across the agriculture-rich landscape, the train made stops in Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard--all on time.

Arriving at the fairgrounds at 10:30-sharp--with an ocean view and giant Ferris wheel on the horizon--the nearly 400 riders quickly made their way to the train’s exits.

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Outside on the ramp, Nancy DeCaussin hustled to ready the stroller for her 2-year-old Dylan and infant Brandon, as her husband Dean grabbed for the tote bag.

“The best thing about not having to drive is I don’t have to constantly tell him to ‘Watch out where you’re going!’ ” she said.

Dean DeCaussin feigned a chuckle and the Thousand Oaks couple headed for the entrance gates.

The Metrolink service, which costs $6 from Simi Valley and Moorpark and $4 from Camarillo and Oxnard, will continue today and run Aug. 26 and 27. For schedule information, call (800) 438-1112.