WASHINGTON - Federal investigators have found preliminary indications the emergency brakes on Metro train 112 were deployed before the six-car train struck the back of another Monday, triggering the deadliest disaster in Metrorail's 33-year history.

NTSB board member Debbie Hersman said at a news conference Tuesday that the emergency brake button, known as the mushroom, had been depressed in the cab of the striking train.

She added, "Our team looked at the wheels and the brakes and they identified blueing of the brake rotors, and this is consistent with an emergency braking application."

It remains unclear how fast the train was traveling at the time of impact, and for how long the emergency braking system had been deployed before impact. The maximum speed along that section of track is 59 mph, Hersman said.

Investigators also found indications the train was being run in automatic mode, the default mode for rush-hour service. An inspection of the driver's cab found a toggle switch, dial, and master controller all set in ATO, or automatic mode, Hersman said.

Under automatic operation, the train should have stopped before striking the other train, even if the driver did nothing. That possibly indicates some time of system failure.

Hersman said maintenance was performed earlier this month on the train control system between the New Hampshire Avenue overpass and the Fort Totten Metro station, which is the location of the crash.

All Metro trains were switched to manual mode after Monday's collision, which killed nine people and injured more than 70.

Jeanice McMillan, 42, was the train operator.

Ana Fernandez, 40, a widowed mother of six.

Dennis Hawkins, 64, was a D.C. Public Schools worker.

Lavonda King, 23, was from Northeast D.C.

Maj. Gen. David Wherley (Ret.) and his wife, Ann, died.

The train controls were just one of four aspects of the investigation the NTSB was pursuing. Investigators are also looking at the tracks, interviewing witnesses, and probing the history of the striking train's operator, 42-year-old Jeanice McMillan, who died in the crash.

Metro officials identified four more victims Tuesday afternoon: Mary Doolittle, 59, of Northwest D.C.; Ana Fernandez, 40, of Hyattsville, Md.; Dennis Hawkins, 64, of Southeast D.C.; and Lavonda King, 23, of Northeast D.C.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty identified four additional victims: Major General David Wherley (ret.) and his wife, Ann, both 62; Veronica DuBose, 29, and Cameron Williams, 37. 

McMillan started with Metro in January 2007 as a bus driver and began training as a train operator in Jan. 2009, Hersman said. She completed training in March 2009.

McMillan went on duty at 4 p.m. Tuesday, just one hour before the collision, Hersman said.

Hersman added investigators would review McMillan's medical records and her "72-hour history", which includes her recent work and rest schedules.

Hersman said fatigue and distraction are big issues in many transit crashes.

"We're also looking to obtain cell phone and text (messaging) records," Hersman said, adding toxicology samples from McMillan have been sent off for analysis.

NTSB's "track group" is working with FBI (web) 's ERT team to document the scene, including using GPS to pinpoint the exact location, orientation and damage to equipment.

Hersman described their work as "meticulous".

The collision occurred along a slightly curved -- "1 degree and 15 minutes" -- section of track between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations.

Crews will return to the scene to test the area for sight lines and stopping distances. Hersman said crews would move the train along incrementally to see at what distance the operator of the striking train could have seen the stopped train.

Investigators are still working to pinpoint the exact point of derailment, because the inertia likely forced the train from the impact site.

NTSB investigators will also be interviewing survivors of the crash, including Jamie Jiao.

The University of Virginia student from Reston was riding in the first car of the striking train and saw the crash coming.

"We stopped for a bit and the conductor announced we were stopping for a train in front -- happens all the time," he recalled. "And I was sitting pretty much up the front so I could see the train in front for a split-second before we crashed."

Jiao suffered an injured foot, back sore, and cuts to his face -- but he is alive and for that he is grateful.

"I was in the front, where the train split apart," he recalled "I only realized later my shoes were gone, my glasses were gone and my lower back was hurting."

WMATA crews are still working to disassemble the damaged cars. Metro is brining in flat bed rail cars to transport the some of the wreckage that cannot be rolled away.

Four of six cars from the standing train have removed to secure location, Hersman said. Investigators hope to access the newer train's nine data recorders and download the information.

The older 1000-series train cars do not have data recorders.

NTSB's 19 investigators will be departing the scene Tuesday night.

It remains unclear when all the wreckage will be cleared. Metro would also have to inspect tracks for problems before it could be cleared to use again.

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