Just looking back at this post and laughing to myself. Little over a year on and 072 is still going round in an even worse state, in the mean time other 071s have been rebuilt that are not in as bad external condition.
In saying that its 4 years next month since the first slate grey 071, 077 was release to traffic. IE are taking their time rebuilding the 18 locos. 081 was the last one done some months back.
072,073,074,075,079,082,083 and 086 are still to be done. 082 has spent over a year in Inchicore at this stage waiting on bogies for about 6 months, on jacks most of the time and was last see outside with the RPSI Cravens on refurb grey bogies with temp yellow fixings in place.
Recently all active 071s have got new silver buffers and refurb brake hoses fitted, even recently rebuilt locos.