For so long now i have always used code 100 track. Started out with bachmann ez track. Life like steel track. Atlas code 100 snap track. I'm looking at the atlas code 83 track now. So now I'm curious as to what everyone else is using on their layout. If maybe there is better track to go with out there.
It will likely depend, at least partially, on what you hope to accomplish. You will be receiving all kinds of advice, from ready made to hand laying. Be certain your choice is readily available. If you are looking at ready made, and are not concerned with getting close to prototypical sized rail, the Atlas C83 is a good choice. The fewer rail joints, the better, so consider flex track sections. If thinking about pre-made with roadbed, Kato Unitrack: https://www.katousa.com/HO/unitrack.html
I hand lay Micro Engineering Code 83 (Main), Code 70 (Sidings) and Code 55 (Spurs and Industrial) on Central Valley tie strips. Last time I calculated, it was cheaper by the foot (including hand-laid turnouts) than anything pre-fab. Hand laying isn't for everyone, I got so frustrated with my turnouts, I replaced some of them with Shinohara brand ones. My layout is small. In the future, I'll probably end up with prefab on the main tracks and turnouts.... handlay the spurs and whatnot.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-VINTAGE-T...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Still made, Buena Vista, Colorado and sold by Walthers. Switches are blanks...usually with milled ties, no chairs. You get to learn how to build switches. My last H0 pike had TruScale, and if my brother hadn't left it all at his last job, I would still be using it and the Varney engines. Dave
Years ago when I was modeling in HO I used Atlas Code 83 with a few curved turnouts by other makers like Walthers where needed. I was always happy with the look of 83.
It really also depends on what your loco and car fleet is. I have a lot of legacy HO and OO stuff. It rides the tie spikes on code 83, that's why I use code 10O atlas. But if you can go smaller it looks a lot nicer.
Atlas code 83 is good track. Peco and Shinohara are also good choices. I would really suggest using flex track instead of sectional track. This way you are not limited to a set raduis and you'll have fewer joints in the track. Years ago I was in N scale before moving to HO scale and I was introduced to flex track in the early 70's by people in a hobby shop. I never looked back. I chose code 70 and started my layout by handlaying track and turnouts and ended up using Shinohara track and turnouts. It is also a lot easier to make track fit together because you can cut the flextrack to the lengths you need instead of having to deal with set lengths of sectional track.
