An apparatus and method for continuously casting thin steel strip include a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls in a roll cassette laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which thin cast strip can be cast, adapted to support a casting pool of molten metal on the casting surfaces, an enclosure to support a protective atmosphere immediately beneath the casting rolls in the casting position, and an upper cover positioned below the casting rolls to move between a closed position covering the upper portion of the enclosure maintaining the protective atmosphere in the enclosure in the closed position and a retracted position enabling cast strip to be cast into the enclosure. A scrap receptacle positioned beneath the casting position movable in either direction to a discharge stations. Further, a movable tundish adapted to be transferred from a heating station to the casting position.