<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-26</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000849213</issuerCik><issuerName>PLUM CREEK TIMBER CO INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001202539</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BROWN WILLIAM R</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>999 THIRD AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>STE. 4300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>98104-4040</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Ex. Vice President and CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-26</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>260.7500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.7100</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20159.9500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Common Stock receipt of which has been deferred pursuant to the terms of an employee benefit plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Additional shares of Common Stock are credited to the participant's deferred stock account with respect to cash distributions by the Issuer. The number of shares of Common Stock credited is equal to the per share distribution amount multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock currently credited to the participant's deferred stock account, divided by the market price of the Common Stock, as defined in the plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>By: Jose J. Quintana, Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

