diff --git a/lib/galaxy/app.py b/lib/galaxy/app.py
index 46520aa62f9..211f28ad79b 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/app.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import sys, os, atexit
 
 from galaxy import config, jobs, util, tools, web
+from galaxy.tracks import store
 from galaxy.web import security
 import galaxy.model
 import galaxy.model.mapping
@@ -32,8 +33,10 @@ class UniverseApplication( object ):
         self.security = security.SecurityHelper( id_secret=self.config.id_secret )
         # Initialize the tools
         self.toolbox = tools.ToolBox( self.config.tool_config, self.config.tool_path, self )
-        #Load datatype converters
+        # Load datatype converters
         self.datatypes_registry.load_datatype_converters( self.toolbox )
+        # Load datatype indexers
+        self.datatypes_registry.load_datatype_indexers( self.toolbox )
         #Load security policy
         self.security_agent = self.model.security_agent
         # Heartbeat and memdump for thread / heap profiling
@@ -60,6 +63,9 @@ class UniverseApplication( object ):
         # FIXME: These are exposed directly for backward compatibility
         self.job_queue = self.job_manager.job_queue
         self.job_stop_queue = self.job_manager.job_stop_queue
+        # Track Store
+        self.track_store = store.TrackStoreManager( self.config.track_store_path )
+        
     def shutdown( self ):
         self.job_manager.shutdown()
         if self.heartbeat:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/config.py b/lib/galaxy/config.py
index 7b56520ce09..267b63f1f1e 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/config.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/config.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class Configuration( object ):
         # Where dataset files are stored
         self.file_path = resolve_path( kwargs.get( "file_path", "database/files" ), self.root )
         self.new_file_path = resolve_path( kwargs.get( "new_file_path", "database/tmp" ), self.root )
+        # dataset Track files
+        self.track_store_path = kwargs.get( "track_store_path", "${extra_files_path}/tracks")
         self.tool_path = resolve_path( kwargs.get( "tool_path", "tools" ), self.root )
         self.tool_data_path = resolve_path( kwargs.get( "tool_data_path", "tool-data" ), os.getcwd() )
         self.test_conf = resolve_path( kwargs.get( "test_conf", "" ), self.root )
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
index d9df85a6739..ab5a58140a4 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
@@ -254,6 +254,10 @@ class Data( object ):
         """This function is called on the dataset after metadata is edited."""
         dataset.clear_associated_files( metadata_safe = True )
 
+    @property
+    def has_resolution(self):
+        return False
+
 class Text( Data ):
 
     def write_from_stream(self, dataset, stream):
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ddd5ef9d0e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""
+Generate indices for track browsing of an interval file.
+
+usage: %prog bed_file out_directory
+    -1, --cols1=N,N,N,N: Columns for chrom, start, end, strand in interval file
+"""
+import sys
+from galaxy import eggs
+import pkg_resources; pkg_resources.require( "bx-python" )
+from bx.intervals import io
+from bx.cookbook import doc_optparse
+import psyco_full
+import commands
+import os
+from os import environ
+import tempfile
+from bisect import bisect
+
+def divide( intervals, out_path ):
+    current_file = None
+    lastchrom = ""
+    for line in intervals:
+        try:
+            chrom = line.chrom
+        except AttributeError, e:
+            continue
+        if not lastchrom == chrom:
+            if current_file:
+                current_file.flush()
+                current_file.close()
+            current_file = open( os.path.join( out_path, "%s" % chrom), "a" )
+        print >> current_file, "\t".join(line)
+        lastchrom = chrom
+    current_file.flush()
+    current_file.close()
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    options, args = doc_optparse.parse( __doc__ )
+    try:
+        chr_col_1, start_col_1, end_col_1, strand_col_1 = [int(x)-1 for x in options.cols1.split(',')]
+        in_fname, out_path = args
+    except:
+        doc_optparse.exception()
+
+    # Sort through a tempfile first
+    temp_file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="r")
+    environ['LC_ALL'] = 'POSIX'
+    commandline = "sort -f -n -k %d -k %d -k %d -o %s %s" % (chr_col_1+1,start_col_1+1,end_col_1+1, temp_file.name, in_fname)
+    errorcode, stdout = commands.getstatusoutput(commandline)
+
+    temp_file.seek(0)
+    interval = io.NiceReaderWrapper( temp_file, 
+                                     chrom_col=chr_col_1,
+                                     start_col=start_col_1,
+                                     end_col=end_col_1,
+                                     strand_col=strand_col_1,
+                                     fix_strand=True )
+    divide( interval, out_path )
+    temp_file.close()
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.xml b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..839247b63e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers/interval.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<tool id="INDEXER_Interval_0" name="Index Interval for Track Viewer">
+  <!-- Used internally to generate track indexes -->
+  <command interpreter="python">interval.py $input_dataset 
+    -1 ${input_dataset.metadata.chromCol},${input_dataset.metadata.startCol},${input_dataset.metadata.endCol},${input_dataset.metadata.strandCol}
+    $store_path
+  </command>
+  <inputs>
+    <page>
+      <param format="interval" name="input_dataset" type="data" label="Choose intervals"/>
+    </page>
+   </inputs>
+  <help>
+  </help>
+</tool>
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/interval.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/interval.py
index 1b97981bfce..596f03c36e1 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/interval.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/interval.py
@@ -287,6 +287,22 @@ class Interval( Tabular ):
             return True
         except:
             return False
+
+    def get_track_window(self, dataset, data, start, end):
+        """
+        Assumes the incoming track data is sorted already.
+        """
+        window = list()
+        for record in data:
+            fields = record.rstrip("\n\r").split("\t")
+            record_start = int(fields[dataset.metadata.startCol-1])
+            record_end = int(fields[dataset.metadata.endCol-1])
+            if record_start < end and record_end > start:
+                window.append( fields )  #Yes I did want to use a generator here, but it doesn't work downstream
+        return window
+
+    def get_track_resolution( self, dataset, data, start, end):
+        return None
     
 class Bed( Interval ):
     """Tab delimited data in BED format"""
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/registry.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/registry.py
index 816851d7437..77c74d52832 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/registry.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/registry.py
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ class Registry( object ):
         self.datatypes_by_extension = {}
         self.mimetypes_by_extension = {}
         self.datatype_converters = odict()
+        self.datatype_indexers = odict()
         self.converters = []
+        self.indexers = []
         self.sniff_order = []
         self.upload_file_formats = []
         if root_dir and config:
@@ -27,8 +29,11 @@ class Registry( object ):
             self.log.debug( 'Loading datatypes from %s' % config )
             registration = root.find( 'registration' )
             self.datatype_converters_path = os.path.join( root_dir, registration.get( 'converters_path', 'lib/galaxy/datatypes/converters' ) )
+            self.datatype_indexers_path = os.path.join( root_dir, registration.get( 'indexers_path', 'lib/galaxy/datatypes/indexers' ) )
             if not os.path.isdir( self.datatype_converters_path ):
                 raise ConfigurationError( "Directory does not exist: %s" % self.datatype_converters_path )
+            if not os.path.isdir( self.datatype_indexers_path ):
+                raise ConfigurationError( "Directory does not exist: %s" % self.datatype_indexers_path )                
             for elem in registration.findall( 'datatype' ):
                 try:
                     extension = elem.get( 'extension', None ) 
@@ -57,6 +62,11 @@ class Registry( object ):
                             target_datatype = converter.get( 'target_datatype', None )
                             if converter_config and target_datatype:
                                 self.converters.append( ( converter_config, extension, target_datatype ) )
+                        for indexer in elem.findall( 'indexer' ):
+                            # Build the list of datatype indexers for track building
+                            indexer_config = indexer.get( 'file', None )
+                            if indexer_config:
+                                self.indexers.append( (indexer_config, extension) )
                 except Exception, e:
                     self.log.warning( 'Error loading datatype "%s", problem: %s' % ( extension, str( e ) ) )
             # Load datatype sniffers from the config
@@ -221,6 +231,16 @@ class Registry( object ):
             self.datatype_converters[source_datatype][target_datatype] = converter
             self.log.debug( "Loaded converter: %s", converter.id )
 
+    def load_datatype_indexers( self, toolbox ):
+        """Adds indexers from self.indexers to the toolbox from app"""
+        for elem in self.indexers:
+            tool_config = elem[0]
+            datatype = elem[1]
+            indexer = toolbox.load_tool( os.path.join( self.datatype_indexers_path, tool_config ) )
+            toolbox.tools_by_id[indexer.id] = indexer
+            self.datatype_indexers[datatype] = indexer
+            self.log.debug( "Loaded indexer: %s", indexer.id )
+            
     def get_converters_by_datatype(self, ext):
         """Returns available converters by source type"""
         converters = odict()
@@ -233,12 +253,27 @@ class Registry( object ):
         if ext in self.datatype_converters.keys():
             converters.update(self.datatype_converters[ext])
         return converters
+
+    def get_indexers_by_datatype( self, ext ):
+        """Returns indexers based on datatype"""
+        class_chain = list()
+        source_datatype = type(self.get_datatype_by_extension(ext))
+        for ext_spec in self.datatype_indexers.keys():
+            datatype = type(self.get_datatype_by_extension(ext_spec))
+            if issubclass( source_datatype, datatype ):
+                class_chain.append( ext_spec )
+        # Prioritize based on class chain
+        ext2type = lambda x: self.get_datatype_by_extension(x)
+        class_chain = sorted(class_chain, lambda x,y: issubclass(ext2type(x),ext2type(y)) and -1 or 1)
+        return [self.datatype_indexers[x] for x in class_chain]
+    
     def get_converter_by_target_type(self, source_ext, target_ext):
         """Returns a converter based on source and target datatypes"""
         converters = self.get_converters_by_datatype(source_ext)
         if target_ext in converters.keys():
             return converters[target_ext]
         return None
+
     def find_conversion_destination_for_dataset_by_extensions( self, dataset, accepted_formats, converter_safe = True ):
         """Returns ( target_ext, exisiting converted dataset )"""
         for convert_ext in self.get_converters_by_datatype( dataset.ext ):
@@ -251,4 +286,4 @@ class Registry( object ):
                 else:
                     ret_data = None
                 return ( convert_ext, ret_data )
-        return ( None, None )
\ No newline at end of file
+        return ( None, None )
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/tracks/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/__init__.py~ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/__init__.py~
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/builders.py b/lib/galaxy/tracks/builders.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py b/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ceeb8b96664
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import os
+from galaxy import config
+
+# This silliness is needed for py2.4 compatibility
+try:
+    from hashlib import sha1 as sha
+except:
+    from sha import new as sha
+
+class BaseCache( object ):
+    """
+    Base/Abstract Cache for dataset indices.
+    """
+    pass
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py~ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py~
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6076abe9f0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/caches.py~
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import os
+from galaxy import config
+
+
+class BaseCache( object ):
+    """
+    Base/Abstract Cache for dataset indices.
+    """
+    pass
+
+class FileCache( BaseCache ):
+    def __init__(self, path=""):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def get(self, key, default=None):
+        cache_path = self._get_key_path( key )
+        if os.path.exists( cache_path ):
+            return open( cache_path, "rb" )
+        else:
+            return default
+
+    def set(self, key, value):
+        cache_path = self._get_key_path( key )
+        file = open( cache_path, "wb" )
+        file.write( value )
+        file.close()
+
+    def _get_key_path( self, key ):
+        return os.path.join( self.path, key )
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/messages.py b/lib/galaxy/tracks/messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..75194a06f1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+PENDING = "pending"
+NO_DATA = "no data"
+NO_CHROMOSOME = "no chromosome"
+DATA = "data"
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py b/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3f06da01089
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import os
+from string import Template
+
+class TemplateSubber( object ):
+    def __init__(self, obj):
+        self.obj = obj
+    def get( self, key, default=None ):
+        return getattr(self.obj, key, default)
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        return self.get(key)
+
+class TrackStoreManager( object ):
+    def __init__(self, path=""):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def get( self, dataset ):
+        s = Template(self.path)
+        return TrackStore( path=s.substitute(TemplateSubber(dataset)) )
+
+class TrackStore( object ):
+    def __init__(self, path=""):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def get(self, chrom="chr1", resolution=None, **kwargs):
+        if not self.exists: raise self.DoesNotExist("TrackStore at %s does not exist." % self.path)
+        object_path = self._get_object_path( chrom, resolution )
+        if os.path.exists( object_path ):
+            return open( object_path, "rb" )
+        else:
+            try:
+                return kwargs['default']
+            except KeyError:
+                raise self.DoesNotExist("TrackStore object at %s does not exist." % object_path )
+
+    def set(self, chrom="chr1", resolution=None, data=None):
+        if not self.exists: self._build_path( self.path )
+        if not data: return
+        object_path = self._get_object_path( chrom, resolution )
+        fd = open( object_path, "wb" )
+        fd.write( data )
+        fd.close()
+        
+    def _get_object_path( self, chrom, resolution ):
+        object_name = chrom
+        if resolution: object_name += "_%d" % resolution
+        return os.path.join( self.path, object_name )
+
+    def _build_path( self, path ):
+        try:
+            print "building path %s " % path
+            os.mkdir( path )
+        except OSError:
+            self._build_path( os.path.dirname( path ) )
+            os.mkdir( path )
+
+    @property
+    def exists(self):
+        return os.path.exists( self.path )
+
+    class DoesNotExist( Exception ):
+        pass
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py~ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py~
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1552ca4edb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tracks/store.py~
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import os
+from string import Template
+
+class TemplateSubber( object ):
+    def __init__(self, obj):
+        self.obj = obj
+    def get( self, key, default=None ):
+        return getattr(self.obj, key, default)
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        return self.get(key)
+
+class TrackStoreManager( object ):
+    def __init__(self, path=""):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def get( self, dataset ):
+        s = Template(self.path)
+        return TrackStore( path=s.substitute(TemplateSubber(dataset)) )
+
+class TrackStore( object ):
+    def __init__(self, path=""):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def get(self, chrom="chr1", resolution=None, **kwargs):
+        if not self.exists: raise self.DoesNotExist("TrackStore at %s does not exist." % self.path)
+        object_path = self._get_object_path( chrom, resolution )
+        if os.path.exists( object_path ):
+            return open( object_path, "rb" )
+        else:
+            try:
+                return kwargs['default']
+            except KeyError:
+                raise self.DoesNotExist("TrackStore object at %s does not exist." % object_path )
+
+    def set(self, chrom="chr1", resolution=None, data=None):
+        if not self.exists: self._build_path( self.path )
+        object_path = self._get_object_path( chrom, resolution )
+        fd = open( object_path, "wb" )
+        fd.write( data )
+        fd.close()
+        
+    def _get_object_path( self, chrom, resolution ):
+        object_name = chrom
+        if resolution: object_name += "_%d" % resolution
+        return os.path.join( self.path, object_name )
+
+    def _build_path( self, path ):
+        try:
+            os.mkdir( path )
+        except OSError:
+            self._build_path( os.path.dirname( path ) )
+            os.mkdir( path )
+
+    @property
+    def exists(self):
+        return os.path.exists( self.path )
+
+    class DoesNotExist( Exception ):
+        pass
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/util/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/util/__init__.py
index 117d1012c21..7a64793cdf5 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/util/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/util/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,18 @@ Utility functions used systemwide.
 
 """
 import logging
-import threading, sets, random, string, md5, re, binascii, pickle, time, datetime, math, re, os
+import threading, random, string, re, binascii, pickle, time, datetime, math, re, os
+
+# Older py compatibility
+try:
+    set()
+except:
+    from sets import Set as set
+
+try:
+    from hashlib import md5
+except ImportError:
+    from md5 import new as md5
 
 import pkg_resources
 
@@ -57,11 +68,11 @@ def unique_id(KEY_SIZE=128):
     Genenerates a unique ids
     
     >>> ids = [ unique_id() for i in range(1000) ]
-    >>> len(sets.Set(ids))
+    >>> len(set(ids))
     1000
     """
     id  = str( random.getrandbits( KEY_SIZE ) )
-    return md5.new(id).hexdigest()
+    return md5(id).hexdigest()
 
 def parse_xml(fname):
     """Returns an parsed xml tree"""
@@ -74,7 +85,7 @@ def xml_to_string(elem):
     return text
 
 # characters that are valid
-valid_chars  = sets.Set(string.letters + string.digits + " -=_.()/+*^,:?!")
+valid_chars  = set(string.letters + string.digits + " -=_.()/+*^,:?!")
 
 # characters that are allowed but need to be escaped
 mapped_chars = { '>' :'__gt__', 
diff --git a/templates/base_panels.mako b/templates/base_panels.mako
index 08516467652..06ab4e657b0 100644
--- a/templates/base_panels.mako
+++ b/templates/base_panels.mako
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@
             </div>
         %endif
         ## Allow other body level elements
-        ${next.body()}
     </body>
     ## Scripts can be loaded later since they progressively add features to
     ## the panels, but do not change layout