FlyerChief Terminal Track 6-49896

Sounds like Lionel has a QC problem. Do what Mark said. 

I agree that Lionel has a QC problem, it would be easy enough to correct but I would like to conform to a standard if one exist.

I had thought about using multiple sections in one track layout so I could tap off power for accessories, without a standard though the power taps could reverse polarity.

If you are using the 37W DC supply that came with the Polar Express set there is not enough wattage to power any accessories. American Flyer is designed as an AC system with a few limited exceptions. In AC there is no + or -, but phasing must match. Also unlike some Lionel items the American Flyer accessories are designed for constant voltage, not variable track power. If you always have constant voltage on the track to operate FlyerChief or Legacy then it can be used for accessories but I recommend against that. It will just aggravate the voltage drop in the track.

To create a standard for your layout you could use the old convention in the Gilbert design and manuals. The 690 track clip has the base post on the left (the bottom one in your picture) and the 7 to 15V clip on the right. This would make the rail on the right in the picture the base post. If DC is supplied it could be negative. The left hand rail in the picture is then positive in DC or the 15V post in AC.

Looks like Lionel had the same idea I had for power taps for accessories, Plug-Expand-Play, now available for the O gauge.

From the new Track and Power catalog page 22:

http://catalogs.lionel.com/16tp/html5/

http://www.lionel.com/articles/plug-expand-play