diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.cc
index 8d661df58b..3262898d13 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.cc
@@ -1050,3 +1050,9 @@ AutomationTimeAxisView::stripable () const
 {
 	return _route;
 }
+
+Gdk::Color
+AutomationTimeAxisView::color () const
+{
+	return gdk_color_from_rgb (_route->presentation_info().color());
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.h b/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.h
index 893c0d6f1e..d073890061 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/automation_time_axis.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ class AutomationTimeAxisView : public TimeAxisView {
 	virtual void set_height (uint32_t, TrackHeightMode m = OnlySelf);
 	void set_samples_per_pixel (double);
 	std::string name() const { return _name; }
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
 
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Stripable> stripable() const;
 	ARDOUR::PresentationInfo const & presentation_info () const;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.h b/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.h
index 3f7e8236c5..75a5f7d421 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/axis_view.h
@@ -43,15 +43,13 @@ namespace ARDOUR {
  * AxisView defines the abstract base class for time-axis trackviews and routes.
  *
  */
-class AxisView : public virtual Selectable, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
+class AxisView : public virtual Selectable, public virtual PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public virtual ARDOUR::SessionHandlePtr
 {
   public:
-	/** @return the track's own color */
-	Gdk::Color color () const { return _color; }
-
 	ARDOUR::Session* session() const { return _session; }
 
 	virtual std::string name() const = 0;
+	virtual Gdk::Color color() const = 0;
 
 	sigc::signal<void> Hiding;
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
index c8992ee0b2..596906c5e8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.cc
@@ -967,3 +967,15 @@ MeterStrip::set_meter_type_multi (int what, RouteGroup* group, MeterType type)
 			break;
 	}
 }
+
+string
+MeterStrip::name () const
+{
+	return _route->name();
+}
+
+Gdk::Color
+MeterStrip::color () const
+{
+	return RouteUI::route_color ();
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.h b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.h
index dfeb406976..fc9b61edb1 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/meter_strip.h
@@ -43,13 +43,16 @@ namespace Gtk {
 	class Style;
 }
 
-class MeterStrip : public Gtk::VBox, public RouteUI
+class MeterStrip : public Gtk::VBox, public AxisView, public RouteUI
 {
   public:
 	MeterStrip (ARDOUR::Session*, boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Route>);
 	MeterStrip (int, ARDOUR::MeterType);
 	~MeterStrip ();
 
+	std::string name() const;
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
+
 	void set_session (ARDOUR::Session* s);
 	void fast_update ();
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Route> route() { return _route; }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index 83cb318cd5..ebbf078b3c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -450,6 +450,15 @@ MixerStrip::mixer_strip_leave_event (GdkEventCrossing *ev)
 	return false;
 }
 
+string
+MixerStrip::name() const
+{
+	if (_route) {
+		return _route->name();
+	}
+	return string();
+}
+
 void
 MixerStrip::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 {
@@ -2616,6 +2625,13 @@ MixerStrip::update_track_number_visibility ()
 		number_label.hide ();
 	}
 }
+
+Gdk::Color
+MixerStrip::color () const
+{
+	return route_color ();
+}
+
 bool
 MixerStrip::marked_for_display () const
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
index 2ce32ef83b..d2e2236941 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 
 #include "pbd/fastlog.h"
 
+#include "axis_view.h"
 #include "ardour_knob.h"
 #include "route_ui.h"
 #include "gain_meter.h"
@@ -74,13 +75,15 @@ class MotionController;
 class RouteGroupMenu;
 class ArdourWindow;
 
-class MixerStrip : public RouteUI, public Gtk::EventBox
+class MixerStrip : public AxisView, public RouteUI, public Gtk::EventBox
 {
   public:
 	MixerStrip (Mixer_UI&, ARDOUR::Session*, boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Route>, bool in_mixer = true);
 	MixerStrip (Mixer_UI&, ARDOUR::Session*, bool in_mixer = true);
 	~MixerStrip ();
 
+	std::string name()  const;
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
 	bool marked_for_display () const;
 	bool set_marked_for_display (bool);
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
index 1586a71c97..faf5712905 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.cc
@@ -342,6 +342,15 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::~RouteTimeAxisView ()
 	CatchDeletion (this);
 }
 
+string
+RouteTimeAxisView::name() const
+{
+	if (_route) {
+		return _route->name();
+	}
+	return string();
+}
+
 void
 RouteTimeAxisView::post_construct ()
 {
@@ -2932,6 +2941,12 @@ RouteTimeAxisView::stripable () const
 	return _route;
 }
 
+Gdk::Color
+RouteTimeAxisView::color () const
+{
+	return route_color ();
+}
+
 bool
 RouteTimeAxisView::marked_for_display () const
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.h b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.h
index 9956aa6f3f..e24bd638a6 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/route_time_axis.h
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ public:
 	RouteTimeAxisView (PublicEditor&, ARDOUR::Session*, ArdourCanvas::Canvas& canvas);
 	virtual ~RouteTimeAxisView ();
 
+	std::string name()  const;
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
+	bool marked_for_display () const;
+	bool set_marked_for_display (bool);
+
 	void set_route (boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Route>);
 
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Stripable> stripable() const;
@@ -134,7 +139,6 @@ public:
 	boost::shared_ptr<AutomationTimeAxisView> automation_child(Evoral::Parameter param);
 	virtual Gtk::CheckMenuItem* automation_child_menu_item (Evoral::Parameter);
 
-	std::string         name() const;
 	StreamView*         view() const { return _view; }
 	ARDOUR::RouteGroup* route_group() const;
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Playlist> playlist() const;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.cc
index 087e562197..b0eaea9a70 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.cc
@@ -548,3 +548,9 @@ VCAMasterStrip::drop_button_press ()
 {
 	drop_all_slaves ();
 }
+
+Gdk::Color
+VCAMasterStrip::color () const
+{
+	return gdk_color_from_rgb (_vca->presentation_info().color ());
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.h b/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.h
index dc223d237a..711ee7171a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/vca_master_strip.h
@@ -42,11 +42,13 @@ class VCAMasterStrip : public AxisView, public Gtk::EventBox
 	~VCAMasterStrip ();
 
 	std::string name() const;
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
 	std::string state_id() const { return "VCAMasterStrip"; }
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::VCA> vca() const { return _vca; }
 
 	static PBD::Signal1<void,VCAMasterStrip*> CatchDeletion;
 
+
      private:
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::VCA> _vca;
 	GainMeter    gain_meter;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.cc b/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.cc
index 4f5777e7c4..a9d6725007 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.cc
@@ -288,3 +288,9 @@ VCATimeAxisView::stripable () const
 {
 	return _vca;
 }
+
+Gdk::Color
+VCATimeAxisView::color () const
+{
+	return gdk_color_from_rgb (_vca->presentation_info().color ());
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.h b/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.h
index 4acd5d3619..e14c2fe3fe 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/vca_time_axis.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class VCATimeAxisView : public TimeAxisView
 	boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::VCA> vca() const { return _vca; }
 
 	std::string name() const;
+	Gdk::Color color () const;
 	std::string state_id() const;
 
 	bool selectable() const { return false; }