Thought maybe I would ask you folks a little question as to qualities of Ho code 83 track available out there. I at this point have no layout and have not designed one. I am going to start out with a 4 X 8 size layout as I do not have a room in my home to dedicate to a monster layout. I would like to stick with a code 83 track due to its more authentic look. I do not think that money is a big issue with a small layout for me. I believe that Peco, Shinohara, Kato or Walthers could be a good choice, but have no experience with these. Anyone out there want to comment pro or con on any of these tracks, of quality, availability of components and basic workability of these products? I am leaving Atlas out as I would like to get a little higher quality of rail.
I wouldn’t pooh-pooh the quality of the Atlas. It’s very good track and consistent. This has the most variety and is fairly ubiquitous.
Peco is miade in the UK so it will have more of a European tie look. You’ll be limited in the turnouts available in Code 83.
I have a Shinohara/Walthers crossing and have been happy with it’s performance. The ties are black. SW also makes curved turnouts. I don’t have any experince with Shinohara or Walthers track separately.
Kato has the Unitrak system. Like Bachmann’s E-Z track, the ballast is attached to the track and it snaps together. (I can’t remember if you can remove Unitrak from the ballast or not.) However, you will be more restricted as per you choices of turnouts and curved track radius, as opposed to the other track manufacturers.
There’s also Micro Engineering. I think they only make flex-track but it’s quality stuff (at a quality price).
PECO’s new code 83 line is American prototype and looks very good. Their code 100 is Euro looking, but works great! Both the new PECO code 83 turnouts and the Micro Engineering code 83 turnouts have that “snap action” feature that makes PECO code 100 stuff so convenient to use. There has been some discussion about the durability of the MicroEngineering turnouts, but haven’t heard much about it recently.