You can use the TAB key to align the object to the track. The object needs to be a newly placed object fresh from the objects list - objects already dropped into place will not work:
1) Select an item from the object list
2) Before dropping it into place, hold the TAB key down while hovering the object over a section of tangent track
3) The object should "snap" to align with the track - if it doesn't, adjust your camera view slightly and try again (don't drop the object or release the TAB key)
4) If the object is 90 degrees to the track and pointed the wrong way, go ahead and drop it in place and use the Ctrl key and the object spinner to rotate it into position
by Marc - 3DTrains