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MONTREAL • Edward A. Burkhardt was hailed as “Railroader of the Year” by Railway Age magazine for his work developing Wisconsin Central and blazing a path for U.S. companies in rail privatizations around the world.

Now the Chicago-based businessman and staff at one of his companies, little-known Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA), are being vilified after one of the deadliest train accidents Canada has ever seen.

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“I hope that I don’t get shot at. I won’t have a bullet proof vest on,” Mr. Burkhardt, founder and chairman of MMA, told the TVA network Monday after saying he plans to travel this week to Lac-Mégantic, Que., the site of the crash. He added he understands people’s anger, having received several threatening messages.

I hope that I don’t get shot at. I won’t have a bullet proof vest on

The basic details of the crash in the small Quebec town are by now well known: A train of oil tanker cars belonging to the MMA sped down the hill into the central core of the pretty community early Saturday and flew off the tracks. The accident ignited thousands of litres of fuel that exploded into a firebomb that razed 30 buildings and torched nearly everything around it. Thirteen people are dead. About 30 others are still missing.