I recently learned about Powered Up parts retiring last week when I wrote my post on powering the LEGO Holiday Main Street trolley with Powered Up parts. If you’ve spent any time animating your LEGO Winter Village, you’ve probably already tried out LEGO’s Powered Up system. So yes, I realize I'm very late to the game. Give me some grace. ;)
Powered Up: What Made It Special
If you've never heard of Powered Up, Tom Alphin of The LEGO Architect fame, wrote an extensive and amazing guide on all things Powered Up. Definitely worth checking out if you like to go deep on things.
For those who like the summary, here's the Cliff Notes version: Powered Up took over from the older Power Functions system and let you use Bluetooth, sensors, motors, and lights, all programmable with a fun app. That meant lively carousels, twinkling lamp posts, and even direction-programmable trains that made the Winter Village extra magical. It’s hard not to cheer for a system that lets a holiday train slow down, reverse, or flash lights with the swipe of a screen.
What’s Powered Up Parts Retired?
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Several key Powered Up parts have already been discontinued or retired:
- 88011 Train Motor (gone in 2024)
- 88012 Technic Hub (already hard to find for train setups)
- 88013 Technic Large Motor (only appearing with premium reseller markups)
- 88016 Large Hub and 88018 Medium Angular Motor (disappeared in 2021)
- 88007 Color & Distance Sensor (official sources have dried up)
We’ve noticed these are often nowhere to be found in Brick & Mortar stores, and online stock seems to shrink with every holiday season. Even LEGO’s site marks many of them as “retiring soon” or just doesn’t stock them at all anymore.
Where Can We Find Retired Parts?
For creative problem-solvers and desperate holiday builders, secondary markets are now essential:
- BrickLink, BrickEconomy, and Brick Owl carry secondhand and rare pieces.
- eBay and other collector-to-collector outlets - pricey, but sometimes the only source.
- Occasional surprises at a local LEGO store, but it’s luck of the draw.
Resort to these platforms, but expect to pay double or triple the original price to replace a motor or snag a hub for that big Winter display!
What Does This Mean for Winter Village Fans?
Magical animated builds are still possible, but planning ahead is crucial now. Powered Up is not as easy to expand as it once was. So, if you’ve got extra train motors, consider yourself lucky! For those of us dreaming up moving sleighs or twinkling tree festivities, retired parts can be a real headache.
What’s Next? The Rumored New Train System for 2026
Excitingly, the LEGO community has caught wind of a new train system slated for release in 2026, which LEGO Customer Service confirmed will have similar functions to Powered Up but with fresh tech twists. While the full details remain under wraps, the expectations include things like rechargeable battery packs instead of disposable ones - much nicer for keeping holiday displays running without constant battery swaps.
Wireless control and app programmability are expected to continue, possibly with simplified motor and hub designs that make powering on and maintaining trains easier. Rumored train sets like 60506 and 60509 might showcase these improvements, blending smoothly into LEGO City layouts with enhanced motor strength and user-friendly features.
While these rumors bring great news, those changes leave Powered Up in a weird place - perhaps only suitable for die-hard modular builders or collectors willing to pay premium on the resale market. We’re hoping for more official updates soon!