First, thanks all for the welcome and advice. Been very helpful so far. I don’t remember tracks being on roadbed and I’ve never seen this easy fit or quick fit track before. As I said, it’s been a long time I’ve decided on N scale and I think I want to go with a coal mining theme, delivering to a power plant{ I live close to one}. Anyway what is a good type of track and are they interchangeable? Starting on a layout plan for my room. It’s 10 x 13 ft. approx. with a closet. May go thru closet, don’t know yet. Haven’t gottin very far yet, but very excited so far. Thanks and Happy RRing. Al
For the track with built in roadbed, Kato is the best and pricier. None of the brands with click connecting roadbed (Kato, Bachman, LifeLike) are directly interchangeable with the others.
Kato does seem to have the upper hand (or voice) on these forums. I’ve never used it, but whichever brand I bought my wife to go under the tree (Atlas, I think) several years ago is buried somewhere under returning sons stuff in our storage area. Never had any problems with it either.
The kicks against any of the track with built in roadbed are. first, they are not compatable with one another and second, you are limited to the curvatature of the track available in your brand.
My feeling toward them is that they are a good way to get trains rolling quickly, so you can get a layout started. Use that layout as pratice for scenery and kit building skills. When you are ready to improve on the layout you have, go to flex track and create your dreams.
Have fun,
Richard
Avoid the N Scale Bachmann EZ-Track. It’s junk. Go with the Kato Unitrack.
For about a year I dabbled in N scale and I used the Atlas code 55 sectional track. I was very pleased with the appearance and reliability. As for roadbed I used the Woodland scenics risers and rubber ballast board. The layout was the size of a door and it took me very little time to construct the trackwork.
Thanks, good points everyone.
A talented modeler here in the Milwaukee area, Larry Pizur, uses the Kato Unitrack with an interesting twist – every few years he totall redoes his layout and reuses the track in new configurations. The slightly rigid geometry of sectional track is something he is willing to put up with in return for that kind of flexibility.
Larry’s layout was on the tour for last year’s N Scale Enthusiasts Convention which was held in Milwaukee.
Dave Nelson
I have used Kato’s N Scale Unitrack and IMHO its well worth the price…The only downfall is when you throw a switch there is a loud “snap” but,at least you know the switch did indeed throw.
If I was to return to N Scale I would use it again.
You have the roadbed attached style track- Atlas true track, Bachmann EZ track, and Kato Unitrack.
Then the basic non roadbed attached track made by Atlas, Micro engineering, and Peco.
I like EZ track to just set up so I can run trains like I was today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JxNZUA1SYE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUPF-tA_vT-HJaNbgmKI_7Bg
But For Layout track I prefer any of the non plastic road bed track. Peco Code 55 can mix with Atlas Code 80, ME Code 55 and Atlas Code 55 will also mix, that’s all I’ve done so far though.
Peco code 55 
At the end of the day Plastic roadbed track is easier to use, while the non roadbed stuff presents a challenge and if ballasted can look pretty real is well worth the time and effort.
Here’s a photo from Tyler Whitcombs N scale Tenino Western, He’s using Peco track the code escapes me for the moment. 
I go with Atlas C80 flex with PECO C80 (Electrofrog) turnouts. I use C80 in staging and the mainline so far. INtend to use C55 for the less traveled areas. No issues so far mixing the two brands.