Welcome aboard!
Slim;
Welcome to the forum! I have been an N-scale modeler for many years, and I agree with the advice you have been given about starting small, and simple. (I'll also add a third 'S' "sectional") Take your time learning. One of the most common mistakes most new model railroaders make is trying to do too much, too quickly, and also wanting too many things to fit in the space they have available.
I wrote the attached files to help "newbies" like you get a better start on a more satisfying first layout. Read through them if you like. I think you will find some helpful information in them. You said you "didn't know where to start." Well you could do worse than starting by reading my first file, "Where do I start."
There is also a book I recommend to new people. It's "Getting Started in Model Railroading" by Jeff Wilson. You can order a copy from
https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/products/books You will find many other books on model railroad subjects there, but this one is all you'll need to get started.
Your list of quality brands for various items is excellent. I personally am a great fan of Kato, but definitely not a Bachmann fan. I have simply had so many bad experiences with older Bachmann locomotives that I stopped buying Bachmann years ago. I admit to being very skeptical about Bachmann, and I have read here about "how much they have improved." However, I also see a lot of posts here about Bachmann locos being returned because they broke down, and posts about people replacing the DCC decoders that come in Bachmann locos with another brand of decoder, because the Bachmann decoder had a loud buzz. A current-production total lemon is Bachmann's EZ-Track turnout which is very poorly designed, and built. So call me prejudiced, but I'm not buying, or recommending, any Bachmann products.
I have absolutely no reservations at all about recommending Kato products however! In fact in 40 years of being an N-scaler, I have never seen a bad Kato product. I own many of their fine locomotives, and a couple of their beautiful passenger trains too.
Micro Engineering flex track, and turnouts, are both excellent quality products and also the most realistic-looking track/turnouts I have ever seen. The flex track is stiff, and requires more effort and patience to form into a smooth curve than some other brands, like Atlas. I use Micro Engineering code 55 flex track on my own layout and I recommend it. Both Micro Engineering's track and turnouts have realistic, but tiny, spike detail, so they look great, but won't stand up well to rough handling. Be careful with them, and they will look, and work, very well.
Peco turnouts, and track, are also excellent. They are based on British, rather than American, prototypes, so they do look a little different, but their appearance is quite acceptable to most modelers. Peco track, and turnouts, are also more ruggedly constructed than Micro Engineering.
All the other products on your list are excellent, and will work well for you. I recommend going with DCC control, but I would hold off on automating operations for now. Do gather information from out computer control experts, on the technical section of this forum, regarding choosing a DCC system (possibly Digitrax) that can interface with a computer, for future reference. However, please take things one step at a time. For now concentrate on building something you like, and that you can run. The computer can take over later.
Again Welcome;
Traction Fan :smilie_daumenpos:
View attachment WHERE DO I START rev 4.pdf
View attachment 1 How to build a better first layout.pdf
View attachment 2 How to build a better first layout.pdf
View attachment 3 & 4 How to build a better first layout.pdf
View attachment 5 How to build a better first layout.pdf
View attachment 6 How to build a better first layout.pdf
View attachment Choosing a Scale.pdf
View attachment All AboutTurnouts rev 5.pdf
View attachment MODEL RAILROADING ON A BUDGET.pdf
View attachment Model Railroad Terminology 3.pdf