Cookie Policy

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device to remember information about your visit. This policy describes how Britain's Steam Railway Encyclopedia uses cookies and similar technologies (like localStorage) on https://www.steamlocomotives.org.

Categories we use

Strictly necessary

Required for the site to work. These are set without consent, they don't track you across sites.

  • cms_consent, stores your consent choices so we don't re-ask on every page.
  • cms_consent_uid, anonymous UUID used to link your consent record for audit.
  • PHPSESSID, standard session cookie for the admin area only.

Analytics (optional)

Set only after you consent to "Analytics". Help us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it.

  • _ga, _ga_*, _gid, Google Analytics 4, used for unique-visitor counts and session analysis.

Advertising (optional)

Set only after you consent to "Advertising". Allow Google AdSense to serve more relevant ads and measure performance.

  • IDE, DSID, NID, DoubleClick / Google Ads identifiers.
  • Google Funding Choices may set TCF v2.3 consent strings for EEA/UK/Swiss visitors.

Preferences (optional)

Remember UI choices that personalise the site beyond core functionality.

  • theme, your chosen light/dark theme setting (stored in localStorage).
  • quiz_scores, scores from interactive quiz rounds you've played. Held in localStorage on this device only, never transmitted, never shared. Review or delete at any time via the My quiz scores page.

Changing your preferences

Click Cookie preferences in the footer at any time to review, change or withdraw your consent. Changes take effect immediately.

Disabling in your browser

You can also block cookies entirely through your browser settings. Note that this may break parts of the site (like login or the admin area). See aboutcookies.org for browser-specific guides.

Do Not Track

We honour the browser Do Not Track (DNT) signal by defaulting Consent Mode to "denied" for analytics and advertising. You still need to click a choice in the banner for us to record a consent decision.

More information

For full details on how we handle personal data, see our Privacy Policy.

Last updated: 2026.