 This cut the relay out of action and reduced the clearing distance of the signal.The lineman knew this but did not expect it to incur a significant risk as the track circuit for a starter signal is only short.Because he only had a wiring schematic and not a signalling diagram he didn't appreciate that the starter signal was 'slotted' to four other track circuits, and was only supposed to clear once all those sections of line ahead were unoccupied.