Fairly good choice in track for a beginner there. My 'test' track is made of the steel stuff, which is alright for testing on and for just displaying stuff on it, but not very easy to keep clean. As for Bachmann, well I've got 3 Bachmann items that are fairly new. A 4-4-0 (UP #119), the Dewitt Clinton set, and a Gandy Dancer. The Dewitt Clinton is the only one to give me any trouble (2 of the driven tender wheels fall out all the time now). I would still say stay away (No expert on Bachmann), but they are a good model if looked after correctly.
Being an Australian modeler, I don't have much in the US area, but out of my US collection my best runner is an Athearn GP-50. Surprisingly, one of my best models is a life-like 'flat top' GP-50 (I think it's a GP-50 anyways). I wouldn't stay away from them, just be wary. If you see a loco in their cheap series that makes you go 'hmmmm, I think I could make something out of that', then get it. They are a good place to learn to kitbash/modify from, and do run reasonably well. My oldest models are both life-like, and both motors still work (The first is a steamer, I stuffed the wheels on that by accident, the other is an F7 that I have since repainted but it still works perfectly).
Very nice start though, you should be proud of you set so far. Oh yes, you may want to change over to kadee couplers. They will work much better than the horn-hooks, they are less likely to uncouple on bumpy track. I either use kadee, NEM 'dunny seat', or hornby couplers on my layout. These 3 have less trouble with bumpy track than the horn hooks. However, you may want to have some 'barrier' wagons, that have a kadee at one end, and a horn hook at the other. This allows you to slowly build up the wagons with kadees, and to learn how to attach the to wagon that are a little harder to attachment them to.
Zec
Being an Australian modeler, I don't have much in the US area, but out of my US collection my best runner is an Athearn GP-50. Surprisingly, one of my best models is a life-like 'flat top' GP-50 (I think it's a GP-50 anyways). I wouldn't stay away from them, just be wary. If you see a loco in their cheap series that makes you go 'hmmmm, I think I could make something out of that', then get it. They are a good place to learn to kitbash/modify from, and do run reasonably well. My oldest models are both life-like, and both motors still work (The first is a steamer, I stuffed the wheels on that by accident, the other is an F7 that I have since repainted but it still works perfectly).
Very nice start though, you should be proud of you set so far. Oh yes, you may want to change over to kadee couplers. They will work much better than the horn-hooks, they are less likely to uncouple on bumpy track. I either use kadee, NEM 'dunny seat', or hornby couplers on my layout. These 3 have less trouble with bumpy track than the horn hooks. However, you may want to have some 'barrier' wagons, that have a kadee at one end, and a horn hook at the other. This allows you to slowly build up the wagons with kadees, and to learn how to attach the to wagon that are a little harder to attachment them to.
Zec
. I wouldnt fly b/c it is expensive and Nauseating 
uke:
