"I used to hear Frankie Armstrong sing that on her annual trip to Berkeley -- always brought down the house. She explained that in Britain, an "engineer" can be someone who works using an engine or machine -- i.e., a turret lathe. In the U.S., we call them machinists. A college degree is not needed, but you do need technical training."

I don't think Frankie is an engineer! In the UK, a man/woman on a machine tool, although working in engineering, would be a turner, miller or setter rather than an engineer.

In the UK, when trains were pulled by steam engines or locomotives, the drivers were called engine drivers. Now trains are driven by train drivers. Nor are people who repair cars and washing machines engineers; they are skilled mechanics.

Engineers are usually graduates in their chosen field, whether civil, electrical, chemical, aeronautical or some other kind of engineering. Chartered engineers are members of their own professional institution, e.g. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.