diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f847034..a3e0f9d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ runner-docs: ## Print Gitea Actions runner substrate docs and evidence
 runner-status: ## Read-only Actions runner, host, and inter-hub registry probes
 	bash tools/gitea-runner-status.sh
 
+forgejo-runner-status: ## Read-only Forgejo Actions runner and endpoint probes
+	bash tools/forgejo-runner-status.sh
+
 check-runner-tools: ## Check local tools used by runner inspection targets
 	@missing=0; \
 	for tool in curl ssh docker; do \
@@ -109,4 +112,4 @@ help: ## Show this help
 	  /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+:.*?##/ { printf "  \033[36m%-20s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2 } \
 	  /^##@/ { printf "\n\033[1m%s\033[0m\n", substr($$0, 5) }' $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
 
-.PHONY: check-tools check-sops registry-docs evidence-docs runner-docs runner-status check-runner-tools gitea-deploy gitea-ingress-deploy gitea-status help
+.PHONY: check-tools check-sops registry-docs evidence-docs runner-docs runner-status forgejo-runner-status check-runner-tools gitea-deploy gitea-ingress-deploy gitea-status help
diff --git a/docs/forgejo-actions-runner-substrate.md b/docs/forgejo-actions-runner-substrate.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e381b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/forgejo-actions-runner-substrate.md
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# Forgejo Actions Runner Substrate
+
+Last reviewed: 2026-07-03
+
+Status: first supported runner on coulombcore (interim). Forgejo instance runs on
+railiance01; runner host is intentionally separate per Forgejo security guidance.
+
+## Purpose
+
+Provide a forge-owned Actions runner for `https://forgejo.coulomb.social` so
+repos in the `coulomb` organization can build and publish without workstation
+involvement. Mirrors the Gitea runner contract in
+`docs/gitea-actions-runner-substrate.md`.
+
+## First Supported Runner
+
+| Field | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| Runner name | `railiance-coulombcore-build-01` |
+| Runner scope | `coulomb` organization |
+| Host | coulombcore (`92.205.130.254`) |
+| Instance | `https://forgejo.coulomb.social/` |
+| Binary | `forgejo-runner` v6.3.1 |
+| Runtime | Host mode (Docker not installed on host yet) |
+| Cluster deploy authority | Not included |
+
+### Labels
+
+```text
+self-hosted:host,linux:host,linux_amd64:host,container-build:host,registry-publish:host,railiance01:host
+```
+
+`self-hosted` preserves compatibility with existing Gitea workflow `runs-on`
+values during migration. Container image builds require Docker on the runner
+host — install before cutover of image-publishing workflows.
+
+## Service Layout
+
+| Path | Purpose |
+| --- | --- |
+| `/usr/local/bin/forgejo-runner` | Runner binary |
+| `/var/lib/forgejo-runner/config.yaml` | Generated config |
+| `/var/lib/forgejo-runner/.runner` | Registration state (secret) |
+| `/etc/systemd/system/forgejo-runner.service` | systemd unit |
+
+## Probe Evidence (2026-07-03)
+
+- Org `coulomb` created on Forgejo.
+- Runner registered and `systemctl is-active forgejo-runner` → `active`.
+- Repo `coulomb/forgejo-actions-probe` workflow `probe.yaml` (`runs-on: self-hosted`)
+  completed with `status: success` (API: `/api/v1/repos/coulomb/forgejo-actions-probe/actions/tasks`).
+
+## Operator Commands
+
+```bash
+# Runner health (from railiance-forge)
+RUNNER_HOST=coulombcore make forgejo-runner-status
+
+# Forgejo app smoke (from railiance-apps)
+make -C ~/railiance-apps forgejo-smoke
+
+# Generate a new org registration token (in cluster, no token in logs)
+KUBECONFIG=~/.kube/config-hosteurope kubectl exec -n forgejo deploy/forgejo-gitea -- \
+  forgejo actions generate-runner-token --scope coulomb
+```
+
+## Secret Boundaries
+
+Same as Gitea runner substrate: registration tokens and `.runner` files stay
+off Git. Use approved secret paths on the runner host only.
+
+## Follow-On
+
+1. Install Docker on the approved runner host for `container-build` jobs.
+2. Move runner to a non-legacy host before coulombcore decommission (T03 drain).
+3. Add repo-scoped registry credentials in Forgejo org secrets for image push.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/forgejo-runner-status.sh b/tools/forgejo-runner-status.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..97e2094
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/forgejo-runner-status.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -u
+
+FORGEJO_URL="${FORGEJO_URL:-https://forgejo.coulomb.social}"
+RUNNER_HOST="${RUNNER_HOST:-coulombcore}"
+RUNNER_SSH_USER="${RUNNER_SSH_USER:-}"
+RUNNER_SSH_KEY="${RUNNER_SSH_KEY:-}"
+SSH_CONNECT_TIMEOUT="${SSH_CONNECT_TIMEOUT:-5}"
+
+section() { printf '\n## %s\n' "$1"; }
+have() { command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1; }
+http_code() { curl -sS -m 8 -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' "$1" 2>/dev/null || printf 'error'; }
+
+section "Tool availability"
+for tool in curl ssh; do
+  if have "$tool"; then printf 'ok: %s\n' "$tool"; else printf 'missing: %s\n' "$tool"; fi
+done
+
+section "Forgejo endpoint checks"
+if have curl; then
+  printf 'forgejo root: %s\n' "$(http_code "${FORGEJO_URL}/")"
+  printf 'forgejo api version: %s\n' "$(http_code "${FORGEJO_URL}/api/v1/version")"
+  printf 'forgejo registry /v2 (GET): %s\n' "$(curl -sS -m 8 -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X GET "${FORGEJO_URL}/v2/")"
+else
+  echo "curl missing; skipping endpoint checks"
+fi
+
+section "Runner host probe"
+if have ssh; then
+  ssh_target="${RUNNER_HOST}"
+  if [ -n "${RUNNER_SSH_USER}" ]; then ssh_target="${RUNNER_SSH_USER}@${RUNNER_HOST}"; fi
+  ssh_args=(-o BatchMode=yes -o ConnectTimeout="${SSH_CONNECT_TIMEOUT}")
+  if [ -n "${RUNNER_SSH_KEY}" ]; then ssh_args+=(-i "${RUNNER_SSH_KEY}"); fi
+  ssh "${ssh_args[@]}" "${ssh_target}" '
+    set -u
+    echo "host=$(hostname)"
+    if command -v forgejo-runner >/dev/null 2>&1; then forgejo-runner -v || true; else echo "missing: forgejo-runner"; fi
+    if command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then docker --version || true; else echo "missing: docker"; fi
+    if command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      systemctl is-active forgejo-runner 2>/dev/null || true
+    fi
+    if [ -f /var/lib/forgejo-runner/.runner ]; then echo "ok: /var/lib/forgejo-runner/.runner present"; fi
+  '
+else
+  echo "ssh missing; skipping runner host probe"
+fi
\ No newline at end of file