I have often wondered why most writers are quick to point out that the Strathaird and Strathnaver had two of their funnels removed but no-one seems to have noticed that the remaining funnel was obviously raised in the process. I have attempted to super-impose a section from an early picture over a later one as accurately as possible and the difference in height is very noticeable. If you have looked at Strathaird PC 1 and 2 you will notice that the single funnel drawing is identical to the one with three funnels except the two funnels have been painted out. Also Strathaird PC 3 is the same painting as on the Strathnaver Postcard. It is a well known fact that many photographs of Strathnaver were in fact Strathaird.
As the Strathaird was re-fitted at Vickers-Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness and the Strathnaver at Harland & Wolff in Belfast there are some other interesting differences. The horn on Strathaird's funnel (left) was placed considerably lower than that of Strathnaver(right).
The rear of Strathaird's single funnel had four rectangular vents but Strathnaver's did not.