I finally got my Bachmann Brill Trolley set-up running. It goes kind of fast but it was hard to program this thing and I'm not going to mess with it. You might want to turn the sound down. It's noisy with my oxygen concentrator running in the  background.
https://youtu.be/sfGe99m50WI

This Switchman Santa isn't a Bachmann item but Bachmann makes trains and accessories for Hawthorne Village  through Bradford Exchange.
https://www.bradfordexchange.com/search/Hawthorne+Village+Trains.html?ta=y

Shucks. I was hoping the power supply was the answer. I doubt that I would know anything if I opened it up.

I ordered the power supply. I don't know if I will get it before Christmas. Shipping says between 21st and 26th. I ordered it from Amazon. I wondered if two batteries were enough to make it move.
I was even talking to Santa to get him to come out in case it was sound activated. I waved my hand in front of it. I put a piece of track in front of it and rolled a car back and forth.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS68XZ28/ref=pe_386300_440135490_TE_simp_item_image

For what you might spend in parts, this might be a better deal. I don't know if it's a pig in the poke or not.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/295650910996?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

GE U36B
https://www.hattons.co.uk/443218/bachmann_usa_0634bac_u36b_ge_7030_of_the_southern_pacific_lines/stockdetail

I see Hawthorne Village sells a power supply for it for $18. Maybe I'll try that. Might be something else I could use the supply for if this doesn't work.

I received it  in the mail this morning. No instructions. I can't get it to anything either other than light up.
On the lower right there is something in the tree like an "electric eye". There is something in the stone wall next to it. It looks like the head of a Philips screwdriver.
Are you using battery or a power supply? I wonder if I try a power supply if it would work. Now I just have batteries in it. I don't have a 3 volt 300 milliamp power supply to try it.

If you are using E-Z Track, the only radius option is their 15" radius. It takes 12 pieces to make a circle.

You could always look or a used set on EBay.That would give you more track to expand your set up plus a spare controller and trolley in case the other one goes bad.

Turn the track so you can see how it's wired. I guess N scale has the plastic pieces covering the wiring like HO that you have to unscrew? Get a piece of regular track and cut a gap in it. Maybe you can use the wires from the old track. You will probably have to run jumper wires to the adjoining track section. Maybe solder a wire or two. I don't remember off hand how the A-B one is wired.  If you are in a club, surely someone can figure it out.

I miss my old Bachmann 4-4-0's with traction tires. I could pull 29 cars up a 2% grade with one. Most of them were Bachmann cars and had plastic wheels and weren't very heavy. The grade started about where the turnout is in front

Joe - I would also suggest that you don't use cotton "snow" or batting around it if you are running it around a Christmas tree. I had the same experience as you but mine was with the little cotton threads for fake snow getting wrapped around all of my axles. The locos were the hardest to get all those out. With the cars, I just removed the wheels and cleaned the stuff out. With the locos, it was mostly done with tweezers, strand by strand. Since you mentioned hair, shedding animals might also be a problem if they get too close.

OK. I'll post instructions if I get them. I'll let you know how mine works.

I wish I would not have seen it. I just poked the pig and bought one from EBay. That will go well with other stuff on the layout. If I put it behind the trolley track, Santa will come out every time the trolley passes. (I hope.) The one I bought said "new in box".