Like many LEGO® fans, I break out the various seasonal LEGO sets at Christmas to litter the house with brick-based festive cheer. This year is no different, but as I dressed the tree last night I light bulb went off. No I didn’t need to buy new lights for the tree, I had an idea – could I bring the Winter Holiday Train to life with Powered UP? I had recently purchased the Powered UP Passenger Train in the Black Friday sales for half price and I’ve always wanted a powered LEGO train, and intended to build it at some point. But could I use the Powered UP elements in place of the Power Function elements intended to be used in the Winter Holiday Train to add power to the set? After a flicking through the instructions for the Winter Holiday Train and the Passenger Train, I was delighted to discover the answer was yes. Infact using Powered UP elements is better than the old PF ones. As Powered Up is a bluetooth based system, you don’t need to add a IR sensor and remote to control the set from afar. Instead the PUP battery box houses both and connects to a smart device or PUP remote.
So instead of adding these Power Functions – 88000: Battery Box & 88002: Train Motor. You can switch them out for the 88009: Powered Up Hub and 88011: Powered UP Train Motor or if you have these element in another LEGO set, borrow them from there. But that’s not all the Powered UP app not only allows you to control the set, it also has sound effects. The Disney Train set has a winter themed control panel, with festive music, whistles and other train related noises. So now after many years of wanting a train running around the base of the tree, I finally have one. Learn more about LEGO Powered UP here.
8th December 2019
Brilliant ! so jealous
9th November 2021
Ia it easy to set up? I am about to buy the powdered up parts so my winter train moves but i am no expert with lego. Please advise, thank you
9th November 2021
Super easy just follow the instructions in the set or online. You can also use the new Powered UP elements in play of the older Power Function set-up
10th November 2021
Thank you
11th December 2021
Will it work without the replacement wheels that come with the original 88002, please?
11th December 2021
Unfortunately you cannot mix and match the old Power Functions with Powered UP as they have different connection points. So if you use the old train wheels you’d need an old motor. If you use the new train wheels you’d need the PU motor hub.
26th August 2022
where can we purchase the motor kit please
27th August 2022
Power Function has been retired so you need to use Powered UP elements now. Following the links here or in the article will take you to the product page for the required parts. You’ll need 88009: Powered Up Hub and 88011: Powered UP Train Motor.
18th December 2022
Thanks a lot for writing this blog Simon! Just rebuilt it with 88009 and 88011. Will test it tomorrow 🙂
19th December 2022
Not sure who Simon is but if I see him I’ll let him know