Mort
AC does not have positive + or negative -, but DC does. AC is alternating current and alternates between positive and negative 60 times per second, for our house 60 hz or cycles per second or cps.
AC has two wires, AC power and common and a switch should be in the AC power. For your house power the common is really the ground but you have to be careful here as it could be wired wrong and the common could be AC power, especially if you do not have polarized plugs. Most train transformers do not have polarized plugs therefore we have to phase them when hooking up 2 or more together.
For your accessory or motor it should not matter which wire you use with AC.
More extras- 110 vac power is an AC power wire and common wire. For 220 vac you have two 110 vac wires to give you 220 vac. That is why you 220vac for high power users like stoves, large air conditioners and saws with large motors. You can take a 220 vac outlet and make it into two 110 vac outlets. The switches should be on all 110 vac wires and not on the common for the 110 vac for safety.
Charlie