Here's a sample that only took me about 60 seconds to do (or less). I created a curve and then I created a polygon sphere. I selected the sphere and then the curve and did a attach to motion path with the options for start and end time set to 1 and 1000. Then I selected only the sphere and did a create animation snap shot with the following options (see image). Then I clicked apply and I was all done.

Hope this helps.

The only part that really took me awhile to learn was using the options in the attach to motion path tool. You have to have the options set just right so that your object doesn't switch positions half way through or point the wrong direction. But once you understand the options, it's pretty easy and FAST.