Connector question

I am in the process of resurecting a layout I built and put away at least fifteen years ago and came across one little item that I need to sort out now, before I screw things down and connect the boards the layout is built on. I came across one piece of track with a plastic pin connector instead of a metal one. I don't recall what and where in the layout I used it for and could use some help sorting it out. Most of the track was left attached to their respective plywood boards with a few sections here and there needing to be rebuilt and assembled. I do have a few, powered accessories but don't recall why I needed that one section. I could read through the Lionel bible I have but that's no fun. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Is it safe to assume that somewhere in this layout there is another plastic pin in the system?