TREE-POINT LANDING RAIN OR SHINE, FAMILIES MAKE TRADITION OF TRAIN RIDE.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

FILLMORE - It was gloomy, it was wet and it was downright cold Saturday morning as the Christmas Tree Train rumbled out of the Fillmore depot for its maiden voyage of the season.

But the weather didn't deter 150 passengers from across Southern California from climbing aboard for the short ride to the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm to find the perfect pine to hack down and drag home.

``We've kind of made it a tradition,'' said Jay Underwood of Burbank who brought his wife and two young sons for the third year in a row.

``We found a great tree,'' he said. ``We just bought a new house so I'm not sure of the size. We'll probably get it in the house and it will be protruding through a window.''

The Christmas Tree Train, part of the historic Fillmore & Western Railway Co., has been operating about five years, taking passengers along a 45-minute ride from downtown Fillmore to the tree farm.

Santa rides the rails as well, handing out candy and spreading good cheer along the route.

Families as far away as Bakersfield and Orange County journeyed Saturday to partake in the old-fashioned Christmas experience and take home a Monterey pine.

Joanne Roberts woke up early to drive up to Fillmore from Yorba Linda with her two sons Roy, 6, and James, 4, to find the right tree.

And they did.

``They're all so much better than I've seen,'' Roberts said. ``There's no holes in them.''

The day's downpour meant lighter than normal numbers on opening day, said conductor Greg Schmidt, who said usually 300 to 400 people ride the train each run on its weekend trips.

But the showers and cold didn't stop Cheryl and Tom Johnson of Simi Valley who recently returned to Southern California after six years of living in Oregon - but they also didn't dawdle.

``In this weather, we took the closest one,'' Tom Johnson said.

For some of Saturday's passengers, however the rain and some opening day glitches made for a miserable experience.

When almost half of the passengers wanted to continue on the train's route to Santa Paula rather than getting off at the outdoor tree farm as planned, confusion caused some people to be left behind, officials said.

Train operators didn't expect the situation as they pulled out of the station because usually only a handful of passengers stay on the train until Santa Paula, Schmidt said.

``We were going to make this a tradition,'' said Lisa Rollins of Thousand Oaks, who got separated from her husband and baby until her husband took a cab back from Santa Paula. ``But not now.''

A few other families found themselves stuck on the stopped cars at the tree farm when they wanted to go on to Santa Paula.

Schmidt said mix-ups sometimes can occur, but not as many as on Saturday. He added that the train is bound by time.

``We have a schedule we have to run by,'' he said.

The train's management offered rain checks for the disgruntled passengers.

Waiting for the train back to Fillmore, the Underwoods said they've never had a problem during their three years making the train's journey - and plan to continue their family holiday tradition into the fourth year next year.

The Christmas Tree Train runs on weekends at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - rain or shine - until the weekend before the Christmas. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors age 60 and over, $8 for youths age 4-12 and $5 for infants.

Trees range in price from $40 to $65, not including required netting. For information and reservations, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Ben Mascaria and daughters Kate, 2, Paige, 4, and Emma, 6, carry away their just-cut Christmas tree Saturday at the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm.

(2) Passengers make their way from the Fillmore Christmas Tree Train to the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm on Saturday.

(3) Volunteers Jason Wright and his father Robert Wright, representing Boy Scout Troop 406, carry a fresh tree to the train.

(4) Joey, left, and Jonny Ambrosino of Tarzana look out the window of the Fillmore Christmas Tree Train as it heads to the depot.

(5) Two children enjoy sharing a seat with Santa Claus on Saturday during a ride on the Fillmore Christmas Tree Train. The train makes weekend runs to the Christmas tree farm.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer